About Us
It all started with...... potatoes?
Southwest Seed started as the Fish Creek Ranch back in the 60’s, with Walter and Lynn Henes attempting to grow seed potatoes. It was a constant struggle. The family got into native grasses to support this potato habit, and the evolution of Southwest Seed was on. Concepts related to native grasses and wildflowers, land restoration, soil health and many other ideas that we take for granted now, were just becoming common wisdom as Southwest Seed began, and we have grown to serve these evolving environmental practices.
Now, more than 60 years later , we are deeply embedded in our community and region, dedicated to satisfying the seed needs of our neighbors, fellow businesses and public entities. Being both a farm and seed company we are involved in all aspects of the seed world. We also take our role as contributing members of our area seriously and are frequently called upon to participate in local Ag events, provide educational presentations, support our incredible non-profit organizations and community institutions.
From Field To Customer
Our Farm
We begin by producing as much of our own seed as possible on our 700 acre farm in Montezuma County, Colorado. We grow over 40 different grass and wildflower species that thrive in the arid southwest, focusing on species native to this region. The process of choosing what to grow is a complex series of decisions that leads to the robustness of our inventory for your seed needs. Our fields are inspected and certified by the Colorado Certified Seed Growers Association.
“Some of our grass fields may look like a hay field, but the wildflowers are awesome. Behind a dark magenta you may see a blue then beyond that a light blue flax field. Our goal is to see if we could get a commercial airline to turn around and take another look.”
– Walter III, Cortez Journal Article 7/6/2010
Conditioning / Warehouse
After the seed is harvested, we bring it to our conditioning plant to be cleaned, bagged and made ready to sell. Conditioned seed is tested at either a state seed lab or a private AOSCA certified lab. All seed sold is tested for purity and viability. We make no in-house guesses.
Sales
With hundreds of species of seed to choose from, knowing how to proceed with a seeding project can be downright overwhelming. We are here to help guide you through considerations on what, when, and how to plant for the health of the land you steward. We have formulated a variety of standard mixes to serve the most common seeding needs in the Four Corners region, and we can create custom mixes tailored to your specific situation. Our expert staff will do whatever we can to give you the tools for success. However, we can’t make it rain, and we can’t help you actually put it in the ground!
Old School Values
& Approach
As local, family operated business, we know that strong relationships and healthy landscapes are the cornerstone of our success. Our focus is on giving you the best experience possible as you care for the land. We don’t collect your information for marketing purposes, and we only recommend the seeds and products that help you meet your goals. We remain one of the few reclamation seed companies in the west that does not report to an investment firm. All orders are taken and fulfilled by our small team of humans, and we are continuously learning from you, in order to better help the next customer succeed. We look forward to working with you!
