A self-proclaimed heirloom preservationist, Sean Williams has been growing and collecting open pollinated plants for over fifteen years. Preserving and finding lost and heritage fruit trees naturally fit with his other efforts. Having potentially rediscovered the extinct “Dearborn’s Seedling” pear his research efforts have focused on the history of heritage fruit trees in central Illinois. Traveling through the countryside in a continued pursuit of lost heritage varieties he has discovered countless wild seedling fruit trees. Wild trees offer themselves to almost immediate assessment and represent a wealth of untapped genetics. Nowadays Sean’s pursuit of wild trees has moved into cities such as Chicago. Understanding the sociology of how fruit is consumed, disposed of, and grows in the urban jungle has become invaluable to him when searching cities. His hope is to find more lost varieties and re-introduce them to the public alongside outstanding wild seedlings.