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Seeds of Change is embarking on the path to becoming a
carbon neutral company.
 By necessity, a seed company, even one dedicated to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture, produces its share of carbon emissions. It takes energy to grow, harvest, clean and pack our seeds as well as to create and mail our catalogs, heat and cool our facilities, and travel the country to visit our growers and attend industry events. We are as committed to offsetting the carbon emissions associated with the operation of our business as we are to promoting sustainability within agriculture. Without a stable climate there will be no sustainable agriculture.
  We are currently analyzing our business practices and taking actions to reduce our carbon footprint. This year, we calculated the carbon footprint from the production, printing and mailing of our seed catalogs, and the production of our seed packs, and have undertaken projects to offset the emissions connected to that footprint. We're happy to say that this year’s catalogs and seed packs are carbon-neutral, and that we're committed to maintaining this status for the future. Additionally, we are exploring means to make our entire business carbon-neutral, in keeping with our dedication to sustainability.
Seeds of Change Local Tree Planting Project
As part of our efforts to offset our carbon emissions, we have coordinated with local schools, pueblos, farmers and private landowners to plant over 250 trees in New Mexico. The trees are all native  species, a combination of conifer, deciduous and fruit trees.
Besides sequestering carbon, these trees will:
- replace stripped riparian vegetation
- create farm windbreaks
- provide habitat for wildlife
- prevent erosion
- store water
- regulate microclimates
- provide shade and rest areas
- supply perennial food, in the case of fruit trees planted on pueblos
Seeds of Change Carbon Offsets
 To account for the remainder of the carbon footprint from the catalog and seedpacks, we have partnered with Carbonfund.org to sponsor a certified reforestation project in Louisiana through the purchasing of carbon offsets. Carbonfund.org ensures that the sponsored tree planting corresponds to the amount of carbon we need to offset. To watch a short video about the reforestation project, click here.
About Carbonfund.org
 “Reduce what you can, offset what you can't,” is the motto of this non-profit which encourages and empowers individuals, businesses, and organizations to offset their carbon emissions. By investing in offset projects that support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and reforestation, participants can reduce their carbon footprint and the threat of climate change. To learn more, visit www.carbonfund.org.
What You Can Do
In North America, most of our energy comes from coal-fired power plants, and most of our transportation is based on internal-combustion engines that consume petroleum and emit carbon and other gases linked to climate change. Because so many aspects of our lives are linked to energy consumption and transportation, there is much that we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.
Energy Efficiency
Try these simple steps to reduce the amount of electricity and petroleum that you consume, and thus, your carbon footprint.
Transportation
- Keep your car well maintained with scheduled fluid and filter changes and properly inflated tires for better mileage
- Minimize fuel consumption by avoiding quick starts and stops, driving the speed limit, maintaining a steady speed, and coasting when you can
- Carpool, use public transportation, and walk and bike more
- Combine trips to use less fuel for more purposes
Home Energy Use
- Ensure that your home is properly insulated to avoid unnecessary heating and cooling
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, which consume as little as ¼ of the energy and can last up to 8 times as long
- Install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature better while you sleep or are away from home
- When it’s time to replace home electronics or appliances, look for energy efficient models, many of which carry the recognizable ENERGY STAR label
For more advice on how to reduce your energy consumption, visit these websites:
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers information on everything from efficient air conditioners to landscaping methods that result in energy savings.
Energyhawk.com provides information on saving money through energy efficiency.
ENERGYguide presents a number of choices for increasing energy efficiency at home and at work, and can help you find energy efficient products, contractors, green energy providers, and more.
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