About Benjis Seeds

Seeds for a healthy and sustainable life
 
Benjis Seeds – heirloom seeds & seed diversity | samenfestes Saatgut & Sortenerhaltung | sementes tradicionais & preservação da diversidade
Benjis Seeds is committed to preserving and passing on our traditional plant diversity – we offer a range from old wild species and historically preserved cultivated varieties to new varieties developed using proven methods that expand our diversity in a contemporary way.
We work in harmony with nature through ecological cycles:
100% free from hybridization, genetic engineering, patents, and synthetic additives.
Rooted in tradition, all our varieties are open-pollinated and promote a self-determined, nature-connected way of life through free and fair access to seeds. 
To keep plant traditions and genetic diversity alive, we share knowledge, inspire, educate, and connect people – for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

Our focus – open‑pollinated seed & heirloom varieties

Healthy nutrition starts with the seed

That’s why we are building an independent ecological farming initiative in Portugal — with and for the community — to preserve and organically multiply the diversity of wild plant species, feral varieties and traditional cultivated crops. At the same time, we collaborate with initiatives across Europe to protect and expand this diversity, ensuring that old, regional and rare varieties are preserved across borders and find their way back into our gardens and onto our plates.
We provide traditional seeds, seedlings and fresh vegetables to anyone interested, and we share our knowledge on ecological seed propagation and self‑sufficiency.

Why preserving our varietal diversity is essential

The quiet erosion of our food culture has long become reality. Over recent decades, the quality and diversity of our food have declined significantly. Today’s agricultural industry increasingly relies on hybrid varieties, genetic engineering and biotechnological methods — developments that displace traditional varieties, reduce biodiversity and ultimately threaten the very foundation of human life.

Our path

We consciously rely on a time‑honoured foundation: the traditional, ecologically rooted way of farming that has proven stable, productive and sustainable for generations. By using open‑pollinated seeds, we strengthen biodiversity, food sovereignty and an agriculture that respects both nature and people — for fertile soils, healthy nutrition and a community‑supported, economically self‑determined life.

Our guiding principles – varietal preservation & varietal diversity

Seeds are our culture

Out of ecological responsibility, our focus lies on preserving diverse and genetically stable varieties, offering traditional open‑pollinated seeds, and cultivating a holistic, ecological approach to plants, animals and people.

Our focus is directed toward a central piece of cultural heritage: seed

Preserving and passing on seed is, for us, an active contribution to protecting diversity and strengthening people’s independence.

For future‑proof seed preservation, we work independently of state structures and actively support traditional seed propagation. In doing so, we contribute to the free, community‑driven preservation of varietal diversity and food sovereignty.

Quality and sustainability – GMO‑free seeds and open access to seed

Sustainable quality for healthy diversity

For us, seed reproducibility is a fundamental requirement — for health, independence and the continued development of our cultivated plants. Quality is our top priority. That’s why we regularly carry out germination tests, vigour assessments and plant‑health examinations.

Organic standards without the label

Due to the legal requirements of the Seed Marketing Act, we consciously refrain from paid organic certification, as it is often economically unfeasible for small, independent projects. Nevertheless, we meet all standards defined within it. Some of our seeds have already been organically certified by other growers. However, without the corresponding paid licence, we are legally not permitted to label or sell our seeds publicly under the protected term “organic seed”.

Together for vibrant diversity

All our varieties are reproducible and can be stably propagated in home gardens for many years. Our seeds come from our own propagation, from traditional breeding lines and from wild collections. Through our Europe‑wide collaboration with breeders, associations and networks, we help preserve a wide diversity of varieties using proven methods — from vegetables and fruit to medicinal and wild plants.

Support for diversity – heirloom vegetables & wild plant seeds

Why traditional vegetable varieties are disappearing from the market

Many old varieties like the ones we offer are considered economically uninteresting by the industry and have been removed from official seed catalogues. The consequences are already noticeable: less flavour, shorter shelf life and an increasingly limited selection in shops.

Seed preservation as a collective responsibility

Our work counteracts this development — through preservation, propagation and sharing. Only through the collective commitment of many people can projects, initiatives, breeders and seed‑saving networks fulfil their mission and actively prevent the loss of diversity.
Sharing our seeds helps preserve diversity and gives as many people as possible access to healthy, flavourful and resilient varieties.

Transparency & positioning – a public‑benefit seed initiative

Our initiative: Common good instead of profit

Benjis Seeds is a community‑oriented initiative. Our aim is to preserve and share open‑pollinated seed, heritage varieties and plant diversity – for healthy nutrition, for self‑sufficiency and for future generations. Our motivation is the preservation of diversity, not economic profit.

We see ourselves as part of a community committed to food sovereignty, ecological responsibility and free access to seed. This initiative emerged in response to the widespread decline in plant diversity — to share knowledge, preserve diversity and encourage people to sow, harvest and become independent.

Passing on seed – strengthening the initiative

We do not operate for profit. Still, our work generates costs — for cultivation, care, packaging, shipping, markets, our website and much more. To secure our livelihood and continue this initiative sustainably, we rely on support. We are therefore deeply grateful for donations and offer seeds for a fixed contribution to cover costs.

What we consciously choose not to do

We do not operate a commercial online shop. We do not sell certified varieties as defined by the Seed Marketing Act. We do not act on behalf of corporations or with economic interests. Our focus is on preserving diversity, not on profit.

What we consciously choose to do

We share seeds, knowledge and inspiration — with people who want to take action themselves. We promote a culture of sharing, self‑sufficiency and ecological responsibility. And we stand up for an inalienable human right: free access to healthy and diverse food.

Discover our rich diversity of varieties — and support the preservation of diversity with your seed purchase!
Discover our diversity
Open‑pollinated heirloom seeds – Benjis Seeds – samenfestes Saatgut alter Sorten – sementes tradicionais de variedades antigas

Legal notice:

This initiative serves the preservation of plant diversity and pursues no commercial interests.
Our actions are grounded in international law, particularly the human right to food and food sovereignty.
Some of our varieties are not listed in the official seed catalog and are shared exclusively through private, non-commercial exchange.
 
 
Traditional Seeds for Your Garden & Balcony
Proven Varieties – Organic, Resilient, and Full of Flavor
Echter Baldrian, Valeriana officinalis Samen – ausdauernde, hochwüchsige grünblättrige Heil‑ und Duftstaude mit zarten, weißlich‑rosafarbenen Blütenrispen

Common Valerian - Valeriana officinalis

€2,50 EUR
Neuseeländer Spinat, Tetragonia tetragonioides Samen – wärmeliebendes, äußerst hitzetolerantes Blattgemüse mit dickfleischigen, leicht salzig‑milden Blättern

New Zealand Spinach - Tetragonia tetragonioides

€2,50 EUR
Italienische Petersilie 'Gigante d’Italia', Petroselinum crispum Samen – großlaubige, intensiv aromatische, sehr wüchsige Blattpetersilie mit kräftigem, grünen Laub

'Gigante d’Italia' Italian Parsley - Petroselinum crispum

€3,00 EUR
Echtes Mädesüß, Filipendula ulmaria Samen – ausdauernde, überhängende Feuchtwiesen‑Staude mit cremeweißen, duftenden Blütenrispen

Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

€2,50 EUR
<tc>Khella / Toothpick-Plant - Ammi visnaga</tc>

Khella / Toothpick-Plant - Ammi visnaga

€2,50 EUR
<tc>Lovage - Levisticum officinale</tc>

Lovage - Levisticum officinale

€2,50 EUR
Echte Kamille, Matricaria recutita Samen – duftende Heil‑ und Teepflanze mit goldweißen Körbchenblüten und fein gefiedertem Blattwerk

True Chamomile - Matricaria recutita

€2,50 EUR
<tc>Crown daisy - Glebionis coronaria var. discolor</tc>

Crown daisy - Glebionis coronaria var. discolor

€2,50 EUR
Wermut, Artemisia absinthium Samen – ausdauernde, silbriglaubige Bitterkraut‑Staude mit stark aromatischem, ätherisch‑würzigem Duft

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium

€2,50 EUR
<tc>Wintercress - St. Barbara Herb - Barbarea vulgaris</tc>

Wintercress - St. Barbara Herb - Barbarea vulgaris

€2,50 EUR
Echtes Johanniskraut, Hypericum perforatum Samen – ölhaltige ausdauernde Heilpflanze mit goldgelben Blüten und punktierten Blättern

Common St. John´s Wort - Hypericum perforatum

€2,50 EUR
Echtes Eisenkraut, Verbena officinalis Samen – ausdauernde Heilpflanze mit zarten, lilafarbenen Blüten und beruhigend‑tonisierender Wirkung

Common Vervain - Verbena officinalis

€2,50 EUR
Muskatellersalbei, Salvia sclarea Samen – ausdrucksstarke kurzlebig mehrjährige Duft‑ und Würzstaude mit großen grünen Blättern und hellviolett‑rosafarbenen BlütenMuskatellersalbei, Salvia sclarea Samen – zweijährige bis kurzlebig mehrjährige Duft‑ und Würzstaude hellviolett‑rosafarbenen Blüten

Clary Sage - Salvia sclarea

€2,50 EUR
Echter Kerbel, Anthriscus cerefolium Samen – feinblättriges Küchen‑ und Heilkraut mit weißen Blüten und fiederartigen Blättern
Save €1,50 EUR

Chervil - Anthriscus cerefolium

€2,50 EUR €1,00 EUR
Griechischer Oregano 'Pizza Oregano', Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum Samen – intensiv aromatische, weißblühende Würzstaude

Greek Oregano - Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum

€2,50 EUR