The Idea of Nature: Public Lecture Series at Boise State University
3/12/26
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What can seeds teach us about adapting to change and uncertainty? What does a forest show us about cooperation and belonging? Turning to the natural world as a rigorous field of study not only offers us an endless
well of intrigue, but also solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face. We are living in a time ripe with division, but even something as simple as planting and tending a seed brings us immediately into interconnection with a whole host of other fascinating beings. And when we join together with folks who also recognize these “others” as the wise teachers they are, our collective imaginations unlock and we are able to envision - and enact - a multitude of plausible, breathtaking alternatives to business-as-usual.
How I Built This Podcast with Guy Raz
3/12/26
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Casey got the opportunity to talk with some business experts on the NPR show “How I Built This” about how to grow Snake River Seed Co-op.
Going to Seed Podcast
12/2/25
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Join Casey O’Leary, farmer, organizer, and founder of Snake River Seed Cooperative, for a live webinar on what it takes to build a regional seed movement.
Casey has helped transform a loose network of vegetable farmers into a functioning seed collective. She and Kelly Kingsland talk with Spencer Suffling (Tanager Farm) about the realities of cooperative organizing, the challenges of integrating seed growing with vegetable growing, and why shared values regarding seed sovereignty and the local economy strengthen the co-op and the local community.
Sierra Laverty, University of Idaho Ada County Extension Agent
11/19/25
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Casey had the opportunity to talk with the Ada County Advanced Master Gardeners about what “resilience” means in practicality, within the context of her work with Snake River Seed Cooperative as well as her work with Taproots Farm Hub...take a look/listen if you’re interested, and let’s build more resilient agricultural systems together!
Zachary Vineyard, IDGuide.com
9/1/2025
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How Snake River Seed Cooperative is Growing Community Resilience
From the homesteaders who transformed sagebrush into farmland to the potato farmers who made the state synonymous with agricultural excellence, Idaho’s fertile soil has drawn many pioneers. And before that, tribes like the Shoshone and Bannock were stewarding the land through prairie management and seed saving. Now, a new generation of agricultural pioneers is writing the next chapter in Idaho’s farming legacy.
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Photo credit: Jordan Unger of J&W Productions
Lucina Glynn, Boise State Public Radio
6/17/25
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As gardens and fields sprout in the summer months, have you ever wondered where the seeds come from?
A seed circus is traveling through Idaho to give all the answers. Whether you are a home gardener or a professional farmer, the Snake River Seed Cooperative is hosting Seed Schools, giving attendees hands-on experience and education about seed production.
Casey O’Leary, seed circus organizer and Snake River Seed Cooperative general manager, joined Idaho Matters to talk about how seed schools are working to cultivate the future of Idaho agriculture.
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Photo credit: Katie Bertram
Casey O'Leary, Idaho Sun
6/13/25
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The Snake River Seed Cooperative is bringing organic seed production education to agriculture producers large and small, writes guest columnist Casey O’Leary.
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Where do the seeds you plant on your farm or garden come from? Why does it matter? The Snake River Seed Cooperative is hitting the road this summer to bring organic seed production education to Idaho producers large and small, thanks to a grant from the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program, or TOPP.
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Photo credit: Neil Palmer, USDA
FARE Idaho
11/14/24
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Exploring the Roots of Snake River Seed Cooperative
Snake River Seed Cooperative (SRSC) is deeply committed to cultivating agricultural resilience and supporting local economies through a farmer-driven, community-centered approach. What started as the Common Wealth Seed Library evolved into Snake River Seed Cooperative in 2014 –a collection of small-scale family farmers operating within the Intermountain West where the seeds are grown, hand-packaged, and offered to gardeners and farmers around the region and beyond. In 2021, SRSC transitioned to an employee and grower-owned cooperative, ensuring that farmers have a direct voice in the decisions that impact their livelihoods and the cooperative's operations.
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Photo credit: Marilyn Isaac Photography
Mary Ann Newcomer, Boise Weekly
8/31/2023
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"The more hands that hold the seeds, the safer they are … ."
That's a quote from Casey O’Leary, co-founder of Snake River Seed Cooperative,
a rabid gardener and all-round cool farmer gal. She teaches Horticulture at the College of Western Idaho, too.
I interviewed Casey a couple of weeks ago since now is the time to start saving seeds for next year. While I save a few kinds of flower seeds from year to year, I rely on her SRSC for most of my garden seeds. I asked her how she got into seed saving and what sparked her interest.
Idaho News 6
9/16/19
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Tucked away in North Boise, Earthly Delights Farm is hard at work. It's where Casey O'Leary grows seeds for the Snake River Seed Cooperative.
Five years ago O'Leary started the co-op and today, she's one of more than 30 farmers in the group contributing locally adapted seeds. Seeds of more than 300 plant varieties are packaged at Snake River Seed headquarters, then sold at independent businesses for Idaho gardeners to enjoy.
"There's a lot, and that's everything from a huge assortment of vegetables to different flowers. We do a lot with native plants and native flowers to support local ecosystems and pollinators," O'Leary explained.