TIME FOR SHARING SEEDS

I love sharing seeds! It's an excellent time to review seed stocks and procure new seeds we want for the upcoming growing season. We can buy high quality heirloom seeds from trusted sources and exchange saved seeds with friends and neighbors through seed swaps and local seed libraries. Seed saving is fun, and takes observation, practice, and time.

WHY SAVE SEEDS?

Seed saving is a part of our history - our ancestors collected many seeds every year for thousands of years. All domestic crops were once wild plants that early humans selected to feed themselves or, later, their livestock. It is a powerful act to save our seeds because we are joining a chain of farmers, gardeners, and seed savers that contribute to a more local, bio-diverse, and equitable food system. We can resist the tremendous consolidation and control of the seed industry by a small number of multi-national chemical and biotechnology companies, like Monsanto, who replace locally adapted seeds with more profitable hybrids and even patented seeds.

A FEW SEED SAVING TIPS

--Get good at one crop at a time. What do you really want to grow, eat, and save seeds from?

--Do a little plant research. Know the scientific name. For example, Brassica oleracea 'Lacinato' (Dinosaur Kale) is one of my favorite plants to grow.

--Find out if the crop can cross with other plants. For instance, most Kale will cross with all other Brassica oleracea plants like cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc. -- a more advanced seed saving endeavor! Start with easier seed-saving species like beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers.

--Choose open-pollinated varieties for seed saving. Open-pollinated (OP) plants are non-hybrid plants with seed that is true generation after generation. In contrast, a hybrid is the offspring of a cross between two parent varieties. Its seed will not be true to type if saved and replanted. Hybrid varieties will be labeled as "Hybrid" or "F1." Remember, most seeds have a short life span (3 - 5 yrs.) so keep planting and saving them!

RESOURCES TO GET STARTED

--Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth (2002)

--Seed Libraries - King County Seed Lending Library - http://kingcoseed.org/ and

West Seattle Seed Lending Library - http://www.seattlefarmschool.com/west-seattle-seed-library/

--Regional, Organic Seed Companies - Seattle Seed Company- http://www.seattleseed.com/, Uprising Seeds - https://uprisingorganics.com/ , and Root and Radicle Seed Company - https://www.facebook.com/Root-Radicle-Seed-Co-847287248657203/

--Seed Savers Exchange - http://www.seedsavers.org/

--Sign up for Organic Seed Alliance's newsletter with timely policy updates - http://seedalliance.org.

--Seed: The Untold Story - recently released documentary - http://www.seedthemovie.com/