The Legacy Seed Box grew out of a real, public conversation about food insecurity in the United States — and a shared decision to respond with action.
During a federal government shutdown, Karee Upendo of Upendo Estates Farm and Erica Plants, owner of Plant & Heal Co. and Gardening Under Influence LLC, connected publicly to address a simple truth:
when systems stall, families still need food.
That conversation turned into action.
Together, they created the Legacy Seed Box as a seed-based solution rooted in dignity, preparation, and long-term food access for families. The work moved from conversation to community distribution through shelters and food pantries — meeting families where they already were, without barriers.
Because of the impact of this work, Black Voters Matter partnered with us to support this effort by covering materials and shipping, allowing Legacy Seed Boxes to reach families across the country.
Other community partners who helped bring this to life
ROOTS is a grassroots effort in food sovereignty created by Lawrence Seals and Ashley Seals, founders of the Farm Fresh 24/7 App. Designed by and for the community, ROOTS supports individuals, families, and neighborhoods across Atlanta with in-house grants to establish 10×10 food production plots, along with the tools, training, and support needed to grow with confidence.
Building on that work, their organization, Collectively Sustainable hosted a community seed-packing event at Seals Family Farm, where volunteers came together to prepare Legacy Seed Boxes for distribution — turning intention into action.
What’s inside each Legacy Seed Box
- 20+ seed packs (vegetables, herbs, and staple crops)
- Heirloom, non-GMO varieties
- Suitable for containers, raised beds, or backyard growing
- Packed intentionally with enough seeds to share
COST:
Free. Including shipping.
We currently have 200 Legacy Seed Boxes available.
How to sign up
To receive a Legacy Seed Box, you must sign up through the official link:
👉 https://BlackOwnedSeeds.com/LegacyBox
Program requirementsÂ
- You must create an account
- You must accept email and text (SMS) communication*
- Subscribe to updates from PlantAndHeal.com*
- One Legacy Seed Box per household
Orders are reviewed before fulfillment.
Orders that do not meet Legacy Seed Box program requirements will be refunded and released to the next person on the waiting list**. A waiting list will be compiled during sign-ups so boxes can be redistributed quickly.
📦 Boxes will ship later this month.
📧 You will receive an email when your box ships.
🕗 Sign-ups open Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
This is about food access.
This is about preparation.
This is about community taking care of itself.
This is legacy.
*By signing up, you agree to receive email and text updates from PlantAndHeal.com.Â
**Orders that do not meet program requirements will be released to the next person on the waiting list.