When Ron Thuma began saving seeds in the 1970s, little did he know that he would build one of the country’s best-known heirloom collections. Living in Hartford, Kansas, he simply wanted to preserve a few vegetable varieties that had been grown by his family for generations. That handful of family seeds marked the beginning of a lifelong interest in preserving heirloom vegetables.
Ron spent most of his career outside the commercial agricultural world. He served as maintenance supervisor at the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge for 36 years, where he ensured that equipment was working, facilities were in their best condition, and he helped conserve one of Kansas' most important ecosystems. Throughout that time, however, gardening also played a major role in his life. According to Seed Savers Exchange, Ron became an early Lifetime Member of the organization and helped share more than 275 seeds through it.
