#seedsaving — Public Fediverse posts

The Watermelon Is Innocent

https://bolesblogs.com/2026/09/07/the-watermelon-is-innocent/

Beans did great this year, we ate loads, froze some and they just kept coming.

Peas are done, we let some dry for seeds and tore out the plants and supports.

The last two surviving sweetcorn cobs were the largest and so got plucked and peeled to dry for seeds.

Also got seeds from the two tobacco plants that popped up randomly after we dug over the former greenhouse for the first time. Nobody here smokes, but I'm kinda curious to experiment with them.

Cucumbers are done too.

Even managed to save a few hazelnuts from the mad squirrels this year.

Just pumpkins, sunflowers and apples left now. And the apples are pretty sour still. Not enough sun. Endless rain.

#Homestead #Harvest #Garden #Beans #Peas #Sweetcorn #Tobacco #Pumpkin #Cucumber #Hazelnuts #SeedSaving

Don't let your summer harvest end! 🌱 Turn this year's success into next year's garden by saving your own seeds. Our new blog covers the 5 easiest vegetables to start with, from tomatoes to beans.

Get all the tips here:
https://vegplotter.com/blog/save-your-summer-top-5-seeds-to-collect

#SeedSaving #GardeningTips #GrowYourOwn

More seed saving!

Today I processed last season's blue lake bean pods. The way the beans get saved generally starts with a few beans getting too mature to eat by the time I notice them. So I let them grow and dry on the vine. Later I pick the whole pods and stick them in a paper bag and put them somewhere well ventilated until I'm ready to process them.

Here's my beans ready for planting! Blue lakes make skinny white beans that remind me of tic tacs. It's not a large amount but plenty for my needs. I discarded about 1/4th of them which were damaged or underdeveloped; we get a lot of Fall rain so there's always a risk that seeds will get damaged when I leave them to dry on the plant.

#Gardening #VegetableGardening #GrowYourOwn #SeedSaving

Seed saving!

It's a problem. Two or three dill plants last year lead to this, thousands of seeds! I always have big ideas for them. A lot of herb seeds can be used as spices. Or microgreens. Or sprouts. But I usually don't get around to it.

But yesterday I stepped into my local library and found out they are collecting seeds for a see & seedling swap. I left with several seed donation baggies and plans to share my seeds with my community.

This was step one - processing. Removing the dried seeds from the seed heads and collecting them up into bags.

#Gardening #VegetableGardening #SeedSaving #GrowYourOwn

🌱 Want to garden more sustainably? Saving your own seeds is a great way to close the loop and preserve local varieties! 🌻

Check out our latest guide on how to get started:
vegplotter.com/blog/saving-...

#GrowYourOwn #Sustainability #GardeningTips #SeedSaving

🌱 Want to garden more sustainably? Saving your own seeds is a great way to close the loop and preserve local varieties! 🌻

Check out our latest guide on how to get started:
https://vegplotter.com/blog/saving-seeds-for-a-sustainable-future

#GrowYourOwn #Sustainability #GardeningTips #SeedSaving

Not a lot of harvesting in the garden this year but it's adequate. A bit of cooler weather has helped. Some big cucumbers, orange tomatoes from a volunteer, zucchini and squash, and a bumper crop of marigolds... I've actually cut out a dozen or more of them from that bed but the peppers are recovering from whatever they had going on too late to do anything now. Saving some pole bean seeds too!

#gardening #harvest #August29 #cucumbers #squash #zucchini #marigolds #garden #SeedSaving

So you rinse it, seal it in a bag with barely damp sphagnum, and set it at the back of the refrigerator for ninety to a hundred and twenty days. In spring you plant it an inch down in a deep pot. Five to seven years later, fruit no corporation ever priced.

Bi socair — be still.

What are you growing that won't pay off for years?

#Foraging #Pawpaw #Gardening #SeedSaving #NativePlants #Herbalism #FoodAsMedicine #Gàidhlig #MastoDaoine #Druid #Folklore #Solarpunk #Cooking
2/2

So you rinse it, seal it in a bag with barely damp sphagnum, and set it at the back of the refrigerator for ninety to a hundred and twenty days. In spring you plant it an inch down in a deep pot. Five to seven years later, fruit no corporation ever priced.

Bi socair — be still.

What are you growing that won't pay off for years?

#Foraging #Pawpaw #Gardening #SeedSaving #NativePlants #Herbalism #FoodAsMedicine #Gàidhlig #MastoDaoine #Druid #Folklore #Solarpunk #Cooking
2/2

Experimental farmer Shane Simonsen: Working on locally adapted #plants & #crops of the future while we still have a safety net. 🌱🌻

https://youtu.be/apdB2H-y8c4

#plantbreeding #seeds #seedsaving #agriculture #local #permaculture #ecology #foodsecurity #food #nutrition

I'm deliberately letting a couple of my red lettuce plants go to seed -- so I'll have seed! All the other ones that have bolted I composted.

How to Harvest #LettuceSeeds: 6 Easy Steps for Harvesting

By Kate Van Druff
December 7, 2021
Updated on October 20, 2022

"Knowing when to harvest lettuce seeds is easy when you take the time to observe your garden. When the lettuce plant bolts, it sends up a flower stalk that soon contains viable lettuce seeds for next year’s crop. Plan to gather lettuce seeds when the flower stalk and seed heads are totally dry. You might even see a little fluff sticking out!"

Learn more:
https://www.bunnysgarden.com/how-to-harvest-lettuce-seeds/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GrowingLettuce #HomeGardens #SeedSaving

So you rinse it, seal it in a bag with barely damp sphagnum, and set it at the back of the refrigerator for ninety to a hundred and twenty days. In spring you plant it an inch down in a deep pot. Five to seven years later, fruit no corporation ever priced.

Bi socair — be still.

What are you growing that won't pay off for years?

#Foraging #Pawpaw #Gardening #SeedSaving #NativePlants #Herbalism #FoodAsMedicine #Gàidhlig #MastoDaoine #Druid #Folklore #Solarpunk #Cooking
2/2

So you rinse it, seal it in a bag with barely damp sphagnum, and set it at the back of the refrigerator for ninety to a hundred and twenty days. In spring you plant it an inch down in a deep pot. Five to seven years later, fruit no corporation ever priced.

Bi socair — be still.

What are you growing that won't pay off for years?

#Foraging #Pawpaw #Gardening #SeedSaving #NativePlants #Herbalism #FoodAsMedicine #Gàidhlig #MastoDaoine #Druid #Folklore #Solarpunk #Cooking
2/2

Master Gardener Spotlight: The Need for Seed – MSU Extension https://www.allforgardening.com/1929694/master-gardener-spotlight-the-need-for-seed-msu-extension/ #biodiversity #ControlledPollination #F1 #gardening #GardeningMontana #GeneticDiversity #heirloom #hybrid #Montaña #OpenPollinated #SeedLibrary #SeedSaving #SeedSharing

#UMaineCooperativeExtension - Bulletin #2750, An Introduction to #SeedSaving for the #HomeGardener

By Mark Hutton

"Rediscovering Seed Saving

"Seed saving is an ancient art that enabled humans to cease being hunter-gatherers. Up until the end of World War II, home gardeners typically saved their own seeds, because high-quality seeds at affordable prices were generally not available. However, seed saving declined with the development of the commercial seed industry, which made low-cost, high-quality vegetable and flower seeds readily available. Presently, renewed interest in #heirloom, unique, and locally adapted vegetable and flower varieties is sparking a resurgence in seed saving.

"Seed-saving is a natural next step for passionate gardeners. Saving seeds not only allows home gardeners to save money; it provides them with an opportunity to express their creativity! This is because saving seed is a form of selection—the very basis of plant breeding. When choosing which plants to save seed from, a gardener must decide which plants have the most desirable characteristics in terms of meeting their goals for plant size, yield, fruit quality, maturity date, attractiveness, etc., thus helping to improve the offspring. When you save seed from your garden, you can create a cultivar uniquely suited to your location, your aesthetic sensibilities, and culinary tastes. Saving seeds takes time, planning, and attention to detail. Here are some basics to get you started on your seed saving adventure."

Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2750e/

#SolarPunkSunday #UMaine #Maine #GrowYourOwn #Seeds #HarvestingSeeds #HeirloomSeeds #Gardening #HomeGardens

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#SeedSavingExchange - Learn how to create a garden that will attract #NativePollinators with #SeedSaving in mind.

Excerpt:

"Serve Up an Enticing Menu Year-Round

Flowering plants supply #pollinators like #bees and #butterflies with essential pollen and nectar. #PollinatorFriendly plants also provide a safe shelter for our hard-working insect friends. The most important aspect of any pollinator garden is diversity. Because pollinators are active from April to October, make sure you have a colorful array of continuously blooming flowers from early spring through fall and keep your plants free of pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides.

Plants should be selected based on the space they will occupy. Specifically, consider your space’s soil type, sun exposure, and moisture levels.

You may also choose to select plant species to support specific pollinators.

- To help monarch butterflies, include #milkweeds and high-quality nectar plants like blazingstars.
- To support #Bumblebees, include plants like #WildBergamot, #hyssop, and #goldenrod.
- #Sunflowers offer not only a supportive perch but also seeds to help attract #hummingbirds and other feathered friends to your garden. #Honeysuckles are also a great way to attract hummingbirds.

To ensure that the pollinators will have something to forage from spring through fall, select various natives that flower at different times throughout the growing season. Choosing plants with a variety of flower colors and shapes will also help attract an assortment of insects of a variety of sizes and foraging habits. Larger clusters of a plant species are better for attracting pollinators than several smaller clusters in and around the garden space."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/pollinators/

#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #GardeningForPollinators #SeedCollection #NativePlants

#FalmouthME - #SeedCollection & Processing – Workshop Series at #GilslandFarm

Aug 15 2026

9:00 am - 10:30 am

Cost: $25 members, $30 nonmembers

"Join us on the third Saturday of each month at the Ann & Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center for a day of hands-on learning, seasonal skill-building, and creative exploration.

Morning workshops (9–10:30 am) are led by Maine Audubon’s Native Plants Program team and focus on practical topics such as seed collection, propagation, potting, and ecological planting. From 11 am–1 pm, all registrants are invited to visit the nursery for in-person plant shopping and guidance from staff.

Afternoon sessions (1–3 pm) shift toward art-based workshops inspired by native plants and the landscapes they shape."

FMI and to register:
https://maineaudubon.org/events/seed-collection-processing/?emci=c4afe479-ac8a-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=89f9b436-5f8e-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&ceid=14973917

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineAudubon #NativePlants #SeedSaving #ArtWorkshops #MaineEvents #SpendTimeInNature #Nature

Seeds and Soil Organics in Alaska 🌲 grows agroecological seeds for food sovereignty 🌱. No-till, no chemicals—just living soil and resilience ❄️🌞. https://agroecologymap.org/l/392 #Agroecology #Permaculture #Alaska #SeedSaving #SoilHealth

#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

How to Recreate a Pioneer Garden at Home https://www.allforgardening.com/1893750/how-to-recreate-a-pioneer-garden-at-home/ #AppleTrees #compost #EdibleLandscaping #EspalierTechnique #flowers #FoodGardens #FruitTrees #garden #gardening #GardeningTips&Hacks #gardens #HeirloomCrops #herbs #landscaping #MikschGarden #OldSalem #PeachTrees #RaisedGardenBed #SeedSaving #SingleBrothers’Garden #VegetableGarden #vegetables #WinstonSalem

Ancient #Seeds, Lost Beans: The Professor Saving North Macedonia's Vanishing Crops

https://balkaninsight.com/2026/07/20/ancient-seeds-lost-beans-the-professor-saving-north-macedonias-vanishing-crops/bi/ #seedsaving

Grow a Modern Victory Garden – Mother Earth News https://www.allforgardening.com/1845946/grow-a-modern-victory-garden-mother-earth-news/ #garden #SeedSaving #VictoryGarden

How do you like the pantyhose plant I'm growing in my garden? Just kidding! I've put knee-high stockings over the seed pods on this collard plant so I can save the seed without it falling to the ground or, more likely, getting eaten by our greedy goldfinches.

#gardening #SeedSaving #GrowYourFood

Some Home Gardeners Are Saving and Replanting Seeds From Every Harvest, And After Two Years They Say They Have Not Bought a Single Seed Packet Since https://www.allforgardening.com/1820805/some-home-gardeners-are-saving-and-replanting-seeds-from-every-harvest-and-after-two-years-they-say-they-have-not-bought-a-single-seed-packet-since/ #garden #gardener #gardening #plant #PlantingSeeds #SeedSaving

Excerpt from Seed Saving: Introduction by the #SeedSavingExchange

"Know Your Plants

Know whether your parent plant is a hybrid or open-pollinated variety.

Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent.

Seed Savers Exchange offers only open-pollinated varieties through its online and print catalog and on The Exchange, its gardener-to-gardener seed swap.

So what are #OpenPollinated varieties, and what is their lifespan? Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

This means, with a little care and planning, the seeds you produce will be true-to-type, keeping their distinct traits generation after generation as long as they do not cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species.
Know your plants’ lifespans.

Open-pollinated varieties can be annual, biennial, and perennial.

Plants that flower, set seed, and die in a single growing season—like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers—are called annuals.

Biennials, such as carrots and onions, don’t flower until their second growing season after they have gone through a cold period called vernalization.

Some long-lived plants, like apple trees and asparagus, are perennial, surviving and flowering for many years.

Know your plants’ specific name (genus and species).

A long green vegetable with several slices
The ‘Armenian’ cucumber, commonly sold as a cucumber, is actually a melon.

In biology, a genus is a taxonomy rank that groups together closely related species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are closely related to eggplants (Solanum melongena). In this case, Solanum is the genus that both tomatoes and eggplants belong to.

A species is a group of individuals that are able to reproduce together. All tomatoes belong to the species lycopersicum and are able to cross-pollinate (or transfer pollen between plants) with each other.

In the garden, most crops are different species from one another, but not always. There are several species of squash and two distinct species of kale—meaning some varieties of these crops are not able to cross-pollinate with each other.

On the other hand, Cucumis melo, commonly categorized as a melon, also contains some varieties that are sold as cucumbers (like ‘Armenian’) because fruits of the variety are unsweet and sometimes pickled.

Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed. But if you want to save seeds from more than one variety, knowing your plants’ scientific name will help you determine which ones may cross-pollinate. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species.

The squash commonly grown in the Seed Savers Exchange gardens at #HeritageFarm, for example, could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate.

On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/#know-your-plants

#SolarPunkSunday #CrossPollination #Gardening #CommunityGardens #SeedSaving #KnowYourPlants

Excerpt from Seed Saving: Introduction by the #SeedSavingExchange

"Know Your Plants

Know whether your parent plant is a hybrid or open-pollinated variety.

Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent.

Seed Savers Exchange offers only open-pollinated varieties through its online and print catalog and on The Exchange, its gardener-to-gardener seed swap.

So what are #OpenPollinated varieties, and what is their lifespan? Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

This means, with a little care and planning, the seeds you produce will be true-to-type, keeping their distinct traits generation after generation as long as they do not cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species.
Know your plants’ lifespans.

Open-pollinated varieties can be annual, biennial, and perennial.

Plants that flower, set seed, and die in a single growing season—like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers—are called annuals.

Biennials, such as carrots and onions, don’t flower until their second growing season after they have gone through a cold period called vernalization.

Some long-lived plants, like apple trees and asparagus, are perennial, surviving and flowering for many years.

Know your plants’ specific name (genus and species).

A long green vegetable with several slices
The ‘Armenian’ cucumber, commonly sold as a cucumber, is actually a melon.

In biology, a genus is a taxonomy rank that groups together closely related species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are closely related to eggplants (Solanum melongena). In this case, Solanum is the genus that both tomatoes and eggplants belong to.

A species is a group of individuals that are able to reproduce together. All tomatoes belong to the species lycopersicum and are able to cross-pollinate (or transfer pollen between plants) with each other.

In the garden, most crops are different species from one another, but not always. There are several species of squash and two distinct species of kale—meaning some varieties of these crops are not able to cross-pollinate with each other.

On the other hand, Cucumis melo, commonly categorized as a melon, also contains some varieties that are sold as cucumbers (like ‘Armenian’) because fruits of the variety are unsweet and sometimes pickled.

Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed. But if you want to save seeds from more than one variety, knowing your plants’ scientific name will help you determine which ones may cross-pollinate. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species.

The squash commonly grown in the Seed Savers Exchange gardens at #HeritageFarm, for example, could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate.

On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/#know-your-plants

#SolarPunkSunday #CrossPollination #Gardening #CommunityGardens #SeedSaving #KnowYourPlants

Excerpt from Seed Saving: Introduction by the #SeedSavingExchange

"Know Your Plants

Know whether your parent plant is a hybrid or open-pollinated variety.

Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent.

Seed Savers Exchange offers only open-pollinated varieties through its online and print catalog and on The Exchange, its gardener-to-gardener seed swap.

So what are #OpenPollinated varieties, and what is their lifespan? Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

This means, with a little care and planning, the seeds you produce will be true-to-type, keeping their distinct traits generation after generation as long as they do not cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species.
Know your plants’ lifespans.

Open-pollinated varieties can be annual, biennial, and perennial.

Plants that flower, set seed, and die in a single growing season—like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers—are called annuals.

Biennials, such as carrots and onions, don’t flower until their second growing season after they have gone through a cold period called vernalization.

Some long-lived plants, like apple trees and asparagus, are perennial, surviving and flowering for many years.

Know your plants’ specific name (genus and species).

A long green vegetable with several slices
The ‘Armenian’ cucumber, commonly sold as a cucumber, is actually a melon.

In biology, a genus is a taxonomy rank that groups together closely related species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are closely related to eggplants (Solanum melongena). In this case, Solanum is the genus that both tomatoes and eggplants belong to.

A species is a group of individuals that are able to reproduce together. All tomatoes belong to the species lycopersicum and are able to cross-pollinate (or transfer pollen between plants) with each other.

In the garden, most crops are different species from one another, but not always. There are several species of squash and two distinct species of kale—meaning some varieties of these crops are not able to cross-pollinate with each other.

On the other hand, Cucumis melo, commonly categorized as a melon, also contains some varieties that are sold as cucumbers (like ‘Armenian’) because fruits of the variety are unsweet and sometimes pickled.

Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed. But if you want to save seeds from more than one variety, knowing your plants’ scientific name will help you determine which ones may cross-pollinate. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species.

The squash commonly grown in the Seed Savers Exchange gardens at #HeritageFarm, for example, could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate.

On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/#know-your-plants

#SolarPunkSunday #CrossPollination #Gardening #CommunityGardens #SeedSaving #KnowYourPlants

Excerpt from Seed Saving: Introduction by the #SeedSavingExchange

"Know Your Plants

Know whether your parent plant is a hybrid or open-pollinated variety.

Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent.

Seed Savers Exchange offers only open-pollinated varieties through its online and print catalog and on The Exchange, its gardener-to-gardener seed swap.

So what are #OpenPollinated varieties, and what is their lifespan? Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

This means, with a little care and planning, the seeds you produce will be true-to-type, keeping their distinct traits generation after generation as long as they do not cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species.
Know your plants’ lifespans.

Open-pollinated varieties can be annual, biennial, and perennial.

Plants that flower, set seed, and die in a single growing season—like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers—are called annuals.

Biennials, such as carrots and onions, don’t flower until their second growing season after they have gone through a cold period called vernalization.

Some long-lived plants, like apple trees and asparagus, are perennial, surviving and flowering for many years.

Know your plants’ specific name (genus and species).

A long green vegetable with several slices
The ‘Armenian’ cucumber, commonly sold as a cucumber, is actually a melon.

In biology, a genus is a taxonomy rank that groups together closely related species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are closely related to eggplants (Solanum melongena). In this case, Solanum is the genus that both tomatoes and eggplants belong to.

A species is a group of individuals that are able to reproduce together. All tomatoes belong to the species lycopersicum and are able to cross-pollinate (or transfer pollen between plants) with each other.

In the garden, most crops are different species from one another, but not always. There are several species of squash and two distinct species of kale—meaning some varieties of these crops are not able to cross-pollinate with each other.

On the other hand, Cucumis melo, commonly categorized as a melon, also contains some varieties that are sold as cucumbers (like ‘Armenian’) because fruits of the variety are unsweet and sometimes pickled.

Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed. But if you want to save seeds from more than one variety, knowing your plants’ scientific name will help you determine which ones may cross-pollinate. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species.

The squash commonly grown in the Seed Savers Exchange gardens at #HeritageFarm, for example, could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate.

On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/#know-your-plants

#SolarPunkSunday #CrossPollination #Gardening #CommunityGardens #SeedSaving #KnowYourPlants

Excerpt from Seed Saving: Introduction by the #SeedSavingExchange

"Know Your Plants

Know whether your parent plant is a hybrid or open-pollinated variety.

Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

Hybrids, which are created by crossing plants of two different varieties, generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant. Seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, on the other hand, will produce plants identical to the parent.

Seed Savers Exchange offers only open-pollinated varieties through its online and print catalog and on The Exchange, its gardener-to-gardener seed swap.

So what are #OpenPollinated varieties, and what is their lifespan? Open-pollinated varieties are like dog breeds; they will retain their distinct characteristics as long as they are pollinated (or “mated”) with the same “breed”/variety.

This means, with a little care and planning, the seeds you produce will be true-to-type, keeping their distinct traits generation after generation as long as they do not cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species.
Know your plants’ lifespans.

Open-pollinated varieties can be annual, biennial, and perennial.

Plants that flower, set seed, and die in a single growing season—like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers—are called annuals.

Biennials, such as carrots and onions, don’t flower until their second growing season after they have gone through a cold period called vernalization.

Some long-lived plants, like apple trees and asparagus, are perennial, surviving and flowering for many years.

Know your plants’ specific name (genus and species).

A long green vegetable with several slices
The ‘Armenian’ cucumber, commonly sold as a cucumber, is actually a melon.

In biology, a genus is a taxonomy rank that groups together closely related species. For example, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are closely related to eggplants (Solanum melongena). In this case, Solanum is the genus that both tomatoes and eggplants belong to.

A species is a group of individuals that are able to reproduce together. All tomatoes belong to the species lycopersicum and are able to cross-pollinate (or transfer pollen between plants) with each other.

In the garden, most crops are different species from one another, but not always. There are several species of squash and two distinct species of kale—meaning some varieties of these crops are not able to cross-pollinate with each other.

On the other hand, Cucumis melo, commonly categorized as a melon, also contains some varieties that are sold as cucumbers (like ‘Armenian’) because fruits of the variety are unsweet and sometimes pickled.

Planting just one variety in a species will help ensure you save pure seed. But if you want to save seeds from more than one variety, knowing your plants’ scientific name will help you determine which ones may cross-pollinate. To save pure seed, you want to prevent cross-pollination between two different varieties in the same species.

The squash commonly grown in the Seed Savers Exchange gardens at #HeritageFarm, for example, could fall into one of three species: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. These species won’t typically cross-pollinate.

On the other hand, Brassica oleracea includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi, all plants you might think wouldn’t cross-pollinate but actually do. Read up on the cross-pollination habits of the plants you are saving seeds from to ensure you won’t run into issues."

Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/#know-your-plants

#SolarPunkSunday #CrossPollination #Gardening #CommunityGardens #SeedSaving #KnowYourPlants

Tired of buying seeds every year? Start saving your own! 🌱 It's a powerful act of self-reliance, preserves unique family heirloom varieties, & connects you to generations of growers. Build food security, grow resilient plants, & nurture biodiversity right in your garden. #SeedSaving #HeirloomSeeds

The other reason I'm growing those two varieties is that I have plenty of Golden Corn and Popcorn kernels that are dry and viable (I sprouted a couple of each last year). But I only have a few kernels of the Strawberry Popcorn and the Hopi Blue Corn.

#SolarPunkSunday #HeirloomCorn #HeirloomSeeds #SeedSaving

Doing a little course planning or looking for reading list additions? Revisit the Canadian Food Studies book reviews for some inspiration!

Start with Taarini Chopra’s review of Growing Resistance: Canadian Farmers and the Politics of Genetically Modified Wheat by Emily Eaton.
https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v1i1.38

Then pair it with Annabel Soutar’s theatre play, Seeds, which brings genetically modified crops into the realm of documentary theatre.
https://porteparole.org/en/plays/seeds/

#FoodStudies
#FoodBooks
#Theater
#DocumentaryTheatre
#GMOs
#GeneticallyModifiedFoods
#Wheat
#Farming
#Farmers
#Agriculture
#FoodPolitics
#SeedSaving

Found this through the #PennState Extension web page...

#SeedSaversExchange - #SeedSaving: Introduction

"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.

Why save seeds?

- You increase your #SelfReliance.
- You connect to nature and your food.
- You save money on future seeds.
- You establish ties to history.
- You adapt varieties to your local climate.
- Saved seeds make great personal gifts.
- You help preserve #biodiversity.
- You join a unique and large community of seed savers!

Seed Saving at Seed Savers Exchange

Saving seeds is integral to our mission at Seed Savers Exchange. It’s right there in our name! At our Heritage Farm headquarters, we steward a living collection of over 20,000 different varieties of seed crops, potatoes, garlic, grapes, and apples. Learn more about preservation at SSE.

There is inherent value in all of the seeds we work to protect. Some of the plants we preserve have a strong cultural history. Others possess unique culinary properties, and others display resilience to climatic events or invasive pests. Read seed stories from the collection.
Rows of large metal shelves full of boxes with many seed packets
The seed bank at Heritage Farm

By saving your own seeds, you play an important part in carrying out our collective mission. It’s up to all of us to lend a hand by saving and sharing seeds. Other ways to support SSE.

You don’t have to save seeds alone! By saving seeds, you join a community of countless other gardeners with similar interests. SSE facilitates the largest free seed swap between home gardeners like yourself. Through the Exchange, gardeners can request seeds from other gardeners, and list their own to share!"

Saving seeds also gives you a special opportunity to make an impact in your own community. Join or start a local #SeedLibrary, attend or host a #seedswap and connect with local gardeners!

Through the Community Seed Network, co-created by SSE, you can connect with other gardeners. You will also find extensive resources on creative ways to share seeds within your community."

Learn more [includes isolation methods, know your plants, harvesting and cleaning seeds]:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedSaving
#HarvestTime #Harvesting #SeedSavers #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #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

This event combines two timely topics close to my heart -- #MaineFarms and #Palestine!

Tomato Seed Processing Workshop

Saturday, August 16, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

#Frith =Farm
61 Ash Swamp Road
#ScarboroughME

"Come to Frith Farm in Scarborough for an afternoon of learning, community building, and #DirectAction, as we lend our hands to harvesting and processing these sacred seeds.

"Chloe Hettinger is a seed grower for the #PalestineHeirloomSeedLibrary's #SeedProtectorProject, a project rooted in #Battir, #Palestine and the United States.

"She will begin the event by speaking about the importance of preserving #heirloom vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and hold a conversation for folks to explore and share their own inherited #foodways.

"The hand-on portion of the event will include harvesting from a seed crop of heirloom tomatoes, processing the seeds from the fruit, and demonstrating the fermentation process that allows tomato seeds to be saved.

"This event is in partnership with the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library, and is supported by the #RealOrganicProject."

RSVP here...
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tomato-seed-processing-workshop-tickets-1489659655129

#MaineEvents #FreePalestine #SeedSaving #HeirloomSeeds #PreservingCulture

Tired of buying seeds every year? Start saving your own! 🌱 It's a powerful act of self-reliance, preserves unique family heirloom varieties, and connects you to generations of growers. Build food security, grow resilient plants, and nurture biodiversity right in your garden. #SeedSaving #Gardening #HeirloomSeeds #SustainableLiving

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

Collecting Wild (Arnica)+ Rock Garden Seed to Scatter

https://spectra.video/w/6UsaRiVTYh8pEMoU7zxJnj