#seedsaving — 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

#PleasantvilleNY - #SeedLibrary

#MtPleasantPublicLibrary

"#GrowYourOwn garden with the help of our Seed Library—a collection of quality, regional flower and vegetable seeds that you can 'check out' for free at the Main Library.

What is a Seed Library?

A Seed Library is a collection of flower and vegetable seeds that you can 'check out' for free. Some Seed Libraries include seeds that have been saved by library patrons, or seeds donated from nurseries. We might have those sources one day at Mt. Pleasant Library, but for now we have seeds purchased from quality regional seed producers in #Maine and #AccordNY.

The purpose of a Seed Library is to encourage #SustainableGardening and #biodiversity by providing free access to seeds. These initiatives empower community members to grow their own food; learn #SeedSaving skills; preserve local, rare, or #HeirloomPlant varieties; and reduce reliance on #CommercialSeedCompanies. This helps combat seed #monocultures that threaten the world's food supply.

How does our Seed Library work?

- Go to the Gardening Special Collection at the Main Library and browse our Seed Library binder which includes details about each type of seed we offer.
- Help yourself to up to 5 seed packets per visit.
- Fill out a short form listing which seeds you took and if there are any seeds you want to request so that we can keep our Seed Library well stocked.
- Go and plant a garden!

What kind of seeds do we have?

- Vegetables, such as Amish Paste Organic Tomato, Marketmore and 76 Organic Cucumber
- Herbs, such as Genovese Basil
- Flowers, such as Purple Stem Asters, which are a great source of nectar for #bumblebees and other #pollinators in the #HudsonValley, and #SpottedJoePyeWeed, which is a native, locally sourced perennial that supports #butterfly populations
Check out our Seed Library binder for the full list of seeds we offer!"

FMI:
https://www.mountpleasantlibrary.org/index.php/collections/seed-library

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedSharing #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule #GYO #GardeningForPollinators #SeedLibraries

#ScotlandGrows - #ShetlandKale

by Cairi Balmain

"I want to draw your attention to a rare Scottish heritage vegetable called Shetland #Kail / #Kale. I have been eating lots of the young leaves recently and wanted to share my love of this not so commonly known vegetable, its history, why it’s so special, and why it should be a staple in Scottish vegetable gardens.

What is Shetland Kale?

Shetland Kale is one of the most productive crops grown in Shetland and officially is classified as a #cabbage. Traditionally, in Shetland the hearts were eaten like a normal cabbage, while the leaves were given to the cattle and this still continues on some #crofts today. I like to eat the young leaves as it is a waste letting them go tough when you do not have cattle to feed! When they are small and tender, the leaves taste nice and peppery and go very well with other types of kale in meals. I like to make kale crisps in the dehydrator or oven.

What is Its History?

Shetland Kale is the oldest known Scottish variety and has been grown in Shetland since the 17th century. Before the era of cheap oil, all #ShetlandCrofts grew crops including #oats, #bere, #neeps, #potatoes, and Shetland Kale. Due to the challenges of the weather in Shetland, seeds were sown in #PlantieCrubs: circular stone walled enclosures where the plants were protected from wind, frost, rabbits, and grazing animals. The seeds were grown successfully here, then were transplanted into kail yards, also made with stone walls to protect them from the near constant wind! There are still many ruined #KailYards visible in the islands, not used any more but part of the landscape heritage of Shetland.

Why Does it Need Saving?

Shetland Kale has been registered as a #ConservationVariety due to its decline in usage over the past thirty years, and until recently the seed’s survival was dependent on local crofters saving their seed and passing it on. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence of people wanting to grow the heritage seed. Shetland Kale Seed Producers Network has recently released seed that I bought from Planticrub, the local garden centre in Shetland. You can find information on Shetland Kale and where to buy it through the Shetland Kale Growers Seed Network. You also might be lucky and find it in a local #SeedSwap #SeedLibrary or meet.

How to Grow

Since not many people have, or have need of, a stone polycrub these days, sow the seeds like normal brassicas inside the house or greenhouse in March/April. Plant out with the other kale, cabbages, and broccoli in late April/early May and harden off in the usual manner. You can also grow them with successive sowings through the Spring and Summer to keep a constant supply. Shetland Kale takes up a lot of space, so space the plants well or they will take over!

I like to harvest a few leaves at a time off each plant when they are young and tender and leave the heart to develop into a cabbage to eat in the Winter. It makes a unique #kimchi! Shetland Kale is hardy so will survive the Scottish Winter fine outside. Shetlanders normally leave a few plants to go to seed the second year to see the beautiful yellow flowers come out and to harvest the seed. To save the seed from your own Shetland Kale and help save this heritage seed, harvest the pods when they have turned brown and slightly brittle, place on a cloth to prevent seed loss and thresh the pods by rubbing between the hands. Then store in a cool area."

https://scotlandgrowsmagazine.com/2020/10/22/shetland-kale/

#SolarPunkSunday #Scotland #TraditionalFoods #SeedSaving #EndangeredSpecies #GrowYourOwn #SeedSaving

Transport Evolved Chicken and Garden Update: Nikki’s Got A New Stash! https://www.allforgardening.com/1657173/transport-evolved-chicken-and-garden-update-nikkis-got-a-new-stash/ #abutilon #BackyardGarden #Baldur'sGate #BG3 #BroadBeans #Broccoli #CaliforniaBellPeppers #celery #DanversCarrots #FavaBeans #garden #geraniums #greenhouse #HickenAndGarden #Karlach #Parsnip #PortlandNursery #RaisedBeds #SeedPotatoes #SeedSaving #SnowPeas #squash #SweetCorn #TelegraphCucumber #VancouverCentennial #WinterGardening #zucchini

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

Veritasium doing the needed.

*Previous video title "EXPOSING MONSANTO CONSPIRACY"

and thumbnail said "THE SEED MAFIA"

Looks like someone got insecure which side is it, you tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVXvFOPIyQ

#monsanto #BayerMonsanto
#permaculture #seedsaving #opensourceseeds #growyourownfood #regenerativeagriculture
#Freeeconomy #resourcebasedeconomy #rbe #ubi #gifteconomy #openaccesseconomy #freeworld #eattherich #tradelesssociety #moneylesssociety
#antiwork

Veritasium doing the needed.

*Previous video title "EXPOSING MONSANTO CONSPIRACY"

and thumbnail said "THE SEED MAFIA"

Looks like someone got insecure which side is it, you tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVXvFOPIyQ

#monsanto #BayerMonsanto
#permaculture #seedsaving #opensourceseeds #growyourownfood #regenerativeagriculture
#Freeeconomy #resourcebasedeconomy #rbe #ubi #gifteconomy #openaccesseconomy #freeworld #eattherich #tradelesssociety #moneylesssociety
#antiwork

Veritasium doing the needed.

*Previous video title "EXPOSING MONSANTO CONSPIRACY"

and thumbnail said "THE SEED MAFIA"

Looks like someone got insecure which side is it, you tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVXvFOPIyQ

#monsanto #BayerMonsanto
#permaculture #seedsaving #opensourceseeds #growyourownfood #regenerativeagriculture
#Freeeconomy #resourcebasedeconomy #rbe #ubi #gifteconomy #openaccesseconomy #freeworld #eattherich #tradelesssociety #moneylesssociety
#antiwork

Veritasium doing the needed.

*Previous video title "EXPOSING MONSANTO CONSPIRACY"

and thumbnail said "THE SEED MAFIA"

Looks like someone got insecure which side is it, you tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVXvFOPIyQ

#monsanto #BayerMonsanto
#permaculture #seedsaving #opensourceseeds #growyourownfood #regenerativeagriculture
#Freeeconomy #resourcebasedeconomy #rbe #ubi #gifteconomy #openaccesseconomy #freeworld #eattherich #tradelesssociety #moneylesssociety
#antiwork

Veritasium doing the needed.

*Previous video title "EXPOSING MONSANTO CONSPIRACY"

and thumbnail said "THE SEED MAFIA"

Looks like someone got insecure which side is it, you tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVXvFOPIyQ

#monsanto #BayerMonsanto
#permaculture #seedsaving #opensourceseeds #growyourownfood #regenerativeagriculture
#Freeeconomy #resourcebasedeconomy #rbe #ubi #gifteconomy #openaccesseconomy #freeworld #eattherich #tradelesssociety #moneylesssociety
#antiwork

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

Organized the "seed vault" today. Threw out anything that had gotten moldy or was too old. I have some treasured heirloom seeds tucked away in sealed containers just in case (beans, corn, sunflowers, etc.). Hopefully this year, my black #walnut tree will start producing walnuts. The "mother tree" was one fully acclimated to #Maine. I've manage to keep alive a few #HeirloomPlants -- including strongly scented #lilacs, that I've rooted and planted in other locations. I've always idolized #FreemanLowell from #SilentRunning -- trying to keep my little corner of the universe green and full of food for the local wildlife.

Updated tag for #SolarPunkSunday . #SolarPunk #SeedSaving