The Economic Times

Meet Ron Thuma, a Kansas maintenance worker who started with just a handful of family seeds in the 1970s; Decades later, he had shared more than 275 varieties

Ron Thuma began saving heirloom vegetable seeds in the 1970s and built a renowned collection over time. Living in Hartford, Kansas, he combined his gardening passion with a commitment to public service. He volunteered as a firefighter and served as mayor while working at the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. Through Seed Savers Exchange, he distributed over 275 seed varieties to help preserve unique crops.