Photo: Wren Rene

Co-curated by Truelove Seeds, Heirloom Plants: Ancestral Seeds in Philadelphia celebrates community gardens and farms throughout the city, where plants, cultural heritage and community science intersect. 

In neighborhoods across Philadelphia, diverse communities from across the globe are stewarding gardens and farms filled with thriving ancestral plants. Generations of people experiencing displacement — due to migration, slavery and global conflict — transported these culturally important seeds to areas far from their homelands to preserve enduring legacies of traditional knowledge, rituals and foodways.

At the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, five community farms — Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden, Novick Urban Farm, Villa Africana Colobó, Bahay 215 and VietLead and Resilient Roots Farm — gathered to archive 25 heirloom plants in the Academy's Botany Collection, or the herbarium. View these specimens for the first time, as well as ancestral stories and recipes from seed-keepers and gardeners who see Philadelphia as a place to make a home. Learn more about a variety of culturally important plants from the collection, alongside fascinating seed histories. Observe how ethnobotanical practices help to advance science and expand our understanding of the natural world and ourselves.

Seed Dissection
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Plants represent over 80% of the Earth's biomass. Nearly two-thirds of plants derive from seeds we rely on to feed ourselves. Human cultures have developed many ways to cultivate and preserve seeds, from food to clothing. But what makes a seed useful or important? Join us to learn about the fantastic world of seeds and why they are essential to communities worldwide.

Botanical Plant Tour
Saturday and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Since the mid-1930s, the Academy's dioramas have captured guests' imagination, showcasing animals from around the world in their habitats. However, plants, which are the basis of all ecosystems, are often overlooked. From trees to cacti, learn the secret benefits these plants provide for their environments and those living in their areas. Join us on this diorama plant walk and gain a newfound appreciation for the rich histories of plants and how they support the survival of life on Earth.

Exhibit Highlights