#heirloomplants — Public Fediverse posts

#SeedSaversExchange - #SeedSaving

Whether you’re new to seed saving or want to brush up on the time-honored practice, these seed-saving basics are a smart place to start

"Why Save Seeds?

Have you ever tried to save seeds from your crops? While the topic may seem daunting, anyone can do it! Not only is seed saving practical, it’s also very rewarding and essential for biodiversity preservation."

Topics include:

#KnowYourPlants
#IsolationMethods
Understanding #SeedMaturity
Harvesting and Cleaning Seeds
Dry #SeedProcessing
#StoringSeeds

Includes a lot of information about common plants (tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra, cucumbers, corn), and instructional videos!

FMI:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/

#SolarPunkSunday #PreservingSeeds #SeedSwaps #SeedSaving #GrowYourOwn #HeritageFarms #SSE #Biodiversity #PreservingBiodiversity #HeirloomPlants #HeirloomSeeds

#Gardens that Nurture #Culture

Spring 2022

Excerpt: "Growing one’s own food became more appealing and, in some cases, a greater necessity to many in this pandemic era. #NativePeoples have long tended gardens that have provided their communities with #sustainably grown foods, #MedicinalPlants and #NaturalMaterials. Today these much-needed sources of local, healthy foods are also places to cultivate and preserve #CulturalTraditions.

" 'Even some Native cultures—like #foraging cultures—that didn’t historically garden now see it as a helpful use of land and time and money because they can efficiently produce the kinds of foods that people need to stay healthy,' said Elizabeth Hoover. Of #Mohawk and #Mikmaq descent, she is an associate professor of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California in Berkeley. Researching this trend, she drove 20,000 miles in 2014 to talk with dozens of #AmericanIndian gardeners and food advocates.

"In western North Carolina, David Anderson works as the horticultural operations supervisor at the #JessieOwleDugan #NativePlant and Greenhouse Facility of the Eastern Band of #Cherokee Indians. The complex includes three #greenhouses, 30 raised growing beds, a 3-acre nursery and 5 acres of fields dedicated to producing crops specifically for their seeds. It also has 330 acres of field that can be leased to enrolled tribal members who wish to garden or farm.

"While the facility does generate funds for the tribe, it also preserves culturally important species to get them into the hands of tribal members to plant. It focuses on growing traditional plants, such as #grapes, #elderberry, #WildStrawberries, #blackberries, #huckleberries sochan and #cohosh. In 2021, the greenhouse also grew #hickory saplings, which once mature, can to provide wood that can be used to make stickball sticks, artworks and other traditional projects. 'We serve our community with plants for home, for farmers, and for restoration,' said Anderson."

Read more:
https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/gardens-that-nurture-culture

#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalFoods #NativeAmericans #CulturalPreservation #GrowYourOwnFood #Resilience #FoodSecurity #HeirloomPlants #SeedSaving

Nana's Heirloom Peonies, blooming in Burnham in 1995. They always travel with me. #garden #gardening #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardeners #peony #peonies #heirloomflower #heirloomflowers #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #vintageflowers #vintageplants #vintagepeonies #pinks #reds #whites #pink #red #white #fecund #bloom #blooms #blooming #flower #flowers #flowering #garden

Nana's Heirloom Peonies, blooming in Burnham in 1995. They always travel with me. #garden #gardening #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardeners #peony #peonies #heirloomflower #heirloomflowers #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #vintageflowers #vintageplants #vintagepeonies #pinks #reds #whites #pink #red #white #fecund #bloom #blooms #blooming #flower #flowers #flowering #garden

Nana's Heirloom Peonies, blooming in Burnham in 1995. They always travel with me. #garden #gardening #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardeners #peony #peonies #heirloomflower #heirloomflowers #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #vintageflowers #vintageplants #vintagepeonies #pinks #reds #whites #pink #red #white #fecund #bloom #blooms #blooming #flower #flowers #flowering #garden

Nana's Heirloom Peonies, blooming in Burnham in 1995. They always travel with me. #garden #gardening #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardeners #peony #peonies #heirloomflower #heirloomflowers #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #vintageflowers #vintageplants #vintagepeonies #pinks #reds #whites #pink #red #white #fecund #bloom #blooms #blooming #flower #flowers #flowering #garden

Nana's Heirloom Peonies, blooming in Burnham in 1995. They always travel with me. #garden #gardening #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardeners #peony #peonies #heirloomflower #heirloomflowers #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #vintageflowers #vintageplants #vintagepeonies #pinks #reds #whites #pink #red #white #fecund #bloom #blooms #blooming #flower #flowers #flowering #garden

My Grandmother's Heirloom Peonies are doing great, in their third year after being transplanted. #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #centralpennsylvania #pennsylvania #garden #gardens #gardening #gardener #gardeners #peony #peonies #peonybush #peonybushes #heirloompeony #heirloompeonies #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #plants #planting #fecund #growing #growingseason #spring #summer #hot #warm #warming #warmweather #clement #beauty

My Grandmother's Heirloom Peonies have been in the family far longer than I. Central Pennsylvania. #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #centralpennsylvania #pennsylvania #garden #gardens #gardening #gardener #gardeners #peony #peonies #peonybush #peonybushes #heirloompeony #heirloompeonies #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #plants #planting #fecund #growing #growingseason #spring #summer #hot #warm #warming #warmweather #clement #beauty

Joe Ball stands proud amongst Mrs. McKee's Yuccas and Nana's heirloom Peonies. Blooming will be early this year. #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardening #garden #gardens #gardening #gardener #fecund #growing #growingseason #growingseasons #yucca #yuccas #peony #peonies #heirloomplant #heirloomplants #heirloompeony #heirloompeonies #flower #flowers #flowering #bloom #blooms #blooming #bud #buds #spring #persephone #persephonesreturn

The Old Coot's Front Garden. #pennsylvaniagarden #pennsylvaniagardens #pennsylvaniagardener #pennsylvaniagardening #dogwood #dogwoods #dogwoodtree #dogwoodtrees #ornamentaltree #ornamentaltrees #flower #flowers #flowering #bloom #blooms #blooming #pink #inthepink #yucca #yuccas #peony #peonies #grass #grasses #quincebush #quince #quincebushes #heirloomplants #heirloomplant

A step-by-step guide to #SavingSeeds

by Maud Powell, March 2010

"Summer and autumn are the seasons when many gardeners and farmers are out in their fields collecting vegetable, fruit and flower seeds for the next season. Seed saving is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older 'heirloom' varieties of seed.

"During the past two decades, many seed companies have consolidated, and regulations regarding the patenting of seed varieties have been loosened. As a result, seed companies routinely drop older varieties for newer ones, which are usually hybridized and/or patented.

"Organized grassroots #SeedSaving efforts, as well as inspired gardeners and farmers, have done an excellent job of saving many heirloom varieties.

"Seed saving is also a great way to develop seed lines that are well adapted to a particular environment. Saving seed from the healthiest plants year after year enables growers to select for traits that are most suitable for their growing conditions.

"Finally, seed saving encourages a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants. We rarely see certain vegetable plants, such as lettuce, onions and carrots, in the reproductive stage of their lives. Saving seed provides growers with an education in plant genetics and breeding, which is usually left to universities and seed companies. Following are the four basic steps to saving seed."

Read more:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

Español version:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/es/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

#SolarPunkSunday #HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #SeedExchange #SharingEconomy #OSUExtensionService #OregonStateUniversity #HeirloomSeeds #HeirloomPlants

A step-by-step guide to #SavingSeeds

by Maud Powell, March 2010

"Summer and autumn are the seasons when many gardeners and farmers are out in their fields collecting vegetable, fruit and flower seeds for the next season. Seed saving is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older 'heirloom' varieties of seed.

"During the past two decades, many seed companies have consolidated, and regulations regarding the patenting of seed varieties have been loosened. As a result, seed companies routinely drop older varieties for newer ones, which are usually hybridized and/or patented.

"Organized grassroots #SeedSaving efforts, as well as inspired gardeners and farmers, have done an excellent job of saving many heirloom varieties.

"Seed saving is also a great way to develop seed lines that are well adapted to a particular environment. Saving seed from the healthiest plants year after year enables growers to select for traits that are most suitable for their growing conditions.

"Finally, seed saving encourages a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants. We rarely see certain vegetable plants, such as lettuce, onions and carrots, in the reproductive stage of their lives. Saving seed provides growers with an education in plant genetics and breeding, which is usually left to universities and seed companies. Following are the four basic steps to saving seed."

Read more:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

Español version:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/es/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

#SolarPunkSunday #HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #SeedExchange #SharingEconomy #OSUExtensionService #OregonStateUniversity #HeirloomSeeds #HeirloomPlants

A step-by-step guide to #SavingSeeds

by Maud Powell, March 2010

"Summer and autumn are the seasons when many gardeners and farmers are out in their fields collecting vegetable, fruit and flower seeds for the next season. Seed saving is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older 'heirloom' varieties of seed.

"During the past two decades, many seed companies have consolidated, and regulations regarding the patenting of seed varieties have been loosened. As a result, seed companies routinely drop older varieties for newer ones, which are usually hybridized and/or patented.

"Organized grassroots #SeedSaving efforts, as well as inspired gardeners and farmers, have done an excellent job of saving many heirloom varieties.

"Seed saving is also a great way to develop seed lines that are well adapted to a particular environment. Saving seed from the healthiest plants year after year enables growers to select for traits that are most suitable for their growing conditions.

"Finally, seed saving encourages a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants. We rarely see certain vegetable plants, such as lettuce, onions and carrots, in the reproductive stage of their lives. Saving seed provides growers with an education in plant genetics and breeding, which is usually left to universities and seed companies. Following are the four basic steps to saving seed."

Read more:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

Español version:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/es/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

#SolarPunkSunday #HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #SeedExchange #SharingEconomy #OSUExtensionService #OregonStateUniversity #HeirloomSeeds #HeirloomPlants

A step-by-step guide to #SavingSeeds

by Maud Powell, March 2010

"Summer and autumn are the seasons when many gardeners and farmers are out in their fields collecting vegetable, fruit and flower seeds for the next season. Seed saving is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older 'heirloom' varieties of seed.

"During the past two decades, many seed companies have consolidated, and regulations regarding the patenting of seed varieties have been loosened. As a result, seed companies routinely drop older varieties for newer ones, which are usually hybridized and/or patented.

"Organized grassroots #SeedSaving efforts, as well as inspired gardeners and farmers, have done an excellent job of saving many heirloom varieties.

"Seed saving is also a great way to develop seed lines that are well adapted to a particular environment. Saving seed from the healthiest plants year after year enables growers to select for traits that are most suitable for their growing conditions.

"Finally, seed saving encourages a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants. We rarely see certain vegetable plants, such as lettuce, onions and carrots, in the reproductive stage of their lives. Saving seed provides growers with an education in plant genetics and breeding, which is usually left to universities and seed companies. Following are the four basic steps to saving seed."

Read more:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

Español version:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/es/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

#SolarPunkSunday #HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #SeedExchange #SharingEconomy #OSUExtensionService #OregonStateUniversity #HeirloomSeeds #HeirloomPlants

A step-by-step guide to #SavingSeeds

by Maud Powell, March 2010

"Summer and autumn are the seasons when many gardeners and farmers are out in their fields collecting vegetable, fruit and flower seeds for the next season. Seed saving is an excellent way to engage in the worldwide movement to preserve some of the older 'heirloom' varieties of seed.

"During the past two decades, many seed companies have consolidated, and regulations regarding the patenting of seed varieties have been loosened. As a result, seed companies routinely drop older varieties for newer ones, which are usually hybridized and/or patented.

"Organized grassroots #SeedSaving efforts, as well as inspired gardeners and farmers, have done an excellent job of saving many heirloom varieties.

"Seed saving is also a great way to develop seed lines that are well adapted to a particular environment. Saving seed from the healthiest plants year after year enables growers to select for traits that are most suitable for their growing conditions.

"Finally, seed saving encourages a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants. We rarely see certain vegetable plants, such as lettuce, onions and carrots, in the reproductive stage of their lives. Saving seed provides growers with an education in plant genetics and breeding, which is usually left to universities and seed companies. Following are the four basic steps to saving seed."

Read more:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

Español version:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/es/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/step-step-guide-saving-seeds

#SolarPunkSunday #HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #SeedExchange #SharingEconomy #OSUExtensionService #OregonStateUniversity #HeirloomSeeds #HeirloomPlants

#SeedLibraries Are Sprouting Up Around the Pine Tree State

#Maine libraries have added seed “borrowing” to their growing list of resources.

By Nora Saks, Downeast Magazine, April 2024

"Among the study tables and the stacks of books and the periodical reading rooms, at public libraries from North Berwick to Milbridge to Bangor, seeds have suddenly taken root in the catalog — often quite literally, with the drawers of stately old card catalogs now used for little packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Whether green-thumbed or plain old green, anyone can drop by for some free garden fodder, which is usually donated by community members, Maine seed companies (like #Johnnys and #Fedco), and garden centers.

"Seed libraries took off early in the pandemic, as many people turned their attention to tending their homes and gardens. Now, libraries tend to pair seed lending with how-to programming, often in partnership with local garden clubs. Some libraries also encourage 'borrowers' to save seeds from their crop and then drop them off at the end of the growing season, but that’s not a requirement (and there are no late fees).

"Lisa Ladd, director of Bucksport’s Buck Memorial Library, sees seeds fitting nicely into libraries’ broader mission to make knowledge and resources accessible to the public. 'As libraries continue to evolve, we’re always looking for ways to meet the community outside of our walls and offer programs that touch different ages and all walks of life...'"

More information (including a list of seed libraries):
https://downeast.com/home-and-garden/maine-seed-libraries/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedLibraries #SeedBanks #CommunityAgriculture #BigAg #SeedSharing #HeirloomSeeds #MaineLibraries #HeirloomPlants

Community #SeedBanks revive diversity in #India’s Kolli Hills

By Tamilarasi Krishnan on 24 September 2024

"Many farmers are now struggling with the high costs of seeds, as the traditional practice of saving a portion of the harvest specifically for seed has largely vanished with the growth of open seed markets. Here, commercially produced varieties offer huge yields but high licensing restrictions, meaning that farmers often cannot save seed as they might have done in the past, because they do not own it.

"Numerous activists, such as the renowned Vandana Shiva, have voiced concerns over the proliferation of private seed banks in India. Shiva argues that seed monopolies could lead to a loss of diversity, increased seed costs, and a rise in chemical use in seed production. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of community seed banks in preserving agricultural diversity and supporting local farmers.

"Despite the dominance of private seed companies, numerous community-based seed banks are now thriving across India, helping farmers to get access to lost varieties without paying high charges. One notable example is the seed bank initiative in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, which demonstrates the potential of local solutions using native seeds to prevent private firms from dominating the local market.

"The Kolli Hills region is home to the Mayalali tribes, who have been cultivating traditional millet varieties with the support of community seed banks. The initiative began in 2009 with the establishment of a single seed bank. Today, there are seven such banks operating across the region. These seed banks have successfully conserved over 20 varieties of millet that had not been previously cultivated for nearly a decade."

Read more:
https://rapidtransition.org/commentaries/community-seed-banks-revive-diversity-in-indias-kolli-hills/

#SustainableAgriculture #SeedBanks #SeedSaving #SolarPunkSunday #FoodSecurity #FoodSovereignty #BigAg #PlantDiversity #TraditionalPlantVarieties #NonGMO #HeirloomPlants #HeirloomSeeds #CommunityAgriculture