Ohtli
“path” in Nahuatl
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples of the Americas bred the wild ancestors of corn, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, cocoa, chili peppers, avocado, vanilla, and many others into the crops that we love and depend on today. They and other ancient farming communities did it through observation, selection, and cooperation. Ohtli is dedicated to continue and enhance this tradition by putting community driven growing and genetic discovery back in the hands of growers and consumers.
A Tradition Worth Continuing
We have set out to build a modern plant exchange that changes how we manage gardens and farms, by highlighting and promoting diversity and decentralizes our seed and plant varieties. We want to create a path between the person tending a plant, the person selecting and saving seeds, and the person eating the fruit or growing a garden flower that recreates the spirit and strength of traditional farming communities.
Ohtli is a new way to join in on an ancient tradition — we’re rediscovering what was lost. Track what you grow, share what you learn, and build on what others discover.
How to Get Started
Register your plants
Register new entities: add what you’re already growing or browse the marketplace to find new plants and seeds from fellow growers.
Grow & observe
Contribute to your entity journals and add traits and trait scores. Note what stands out — flavor, vigor, disease resistance, bloom time. Your observations matter.
Exchange with other growers
Create listings and exchange seeds, plants, cuttings, fruit, and more with others on the marketplace.
Create something new
Collect unique varieties and cross them. Introduce new genetics for others to try and grow
Grow with Your Community
Gardening doesn’t have to be solitary. Ohtli connects you with growers in your area who share your curiosity — people to swap plants with, learn from, and build something together.
Connect with your community
Connect with growers in your area through local clubs. Share what’s thriving, swap tips, and discover what your neighbors are growing.
Meet up & exchange
Clubs host plant swaps, garden tours, and tastings. Trade cuttings with the grower down the street or find rare varieties from across town.
Grow together
When growers collaborate, everyone’s garden gets better. Pool knowledge, share seeds from your best plants, and build something together that no one could alone.