COTTAGE GARDENER
Heirloom Seedhouse

Open Source Seed Initiative

(OSSI)

What is OSSI?

OSSI was created by a group of plant breeders, farmers, seed companies and sustainability advocates who want to free the seed! Today only a handful of companies account for most of the world's commercial breeding and seed sales. Increasingly, patenting is used to enhance the power and control of these companies over the seeds and the farmers that feed the world. 

Patented seeds cannot be saved, replanted or shared by farmers and gardeners. And because there is no research exemption for patented material, plant breeders at universities and small seed companies cannot use patented seed to create the new seed crop varieties that should be the foundation of a just and sustainable agriculture. 

OSSI works with plant breeders who commit to making one or more of their varieties available exclusively under the OSSI Pledge: "You have the freedom to uses these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others' use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this Pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives."

Here at The Cottage Gardener, our mission has always been to preserve and protect open-pollinated seed varieties. We are pleased to support this worthwhile initiative by becoming a Seed Company Partner with OSSI  and offering high-quality OSSI  seed varieties. 

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