The Heritage Seed Program was a lot of work for a few volunteers, but it was soon reinvigorated by Heather Apple, a long-time organic gardener, past president of the Durham, Ontario chapter of COG, and a Seed Savers Exchange contributor.
Her aim was to develop it as a grass-roots seed-saving organization modelled after the Seed Savers Exchange and beginning with an announcement in August 1988, she produced a separate newsletter for the program which became a magazine by December 1988.
Under Heather's dedicated leadership, the Heritage Seed Program thrived, grew to over 2000 members across Canada, received a 5-year grant from the Weston Family Foundation to get those members busy saving seeds, and inspired many more volunteers to help.