Sowing seeds

When I am asked what my favorite season is, I always answer autumn. However, I am either lying to myself or spring is an extremely close second. Longer days, melting snow, and returning birds all let me enjoy an annual rebirth. I get naturally high in the spring and feel more alive, like a bear coming out of hibernation. I've gardened for over 30 years and for many of those years I have started my own seedlings. Anticipating the sprouting of new seedlings is an exciting time. The joy that comes with each seed poking out of the soil is difficult to express to someone who does not garden. This is magical! In an effort to be more sustainable, I want to do a better job of growing open-pollinated, heirloom seeds instead of hybrids. (Although I am still planting some Sun Gold tomatoes thos year - they were just too delicious.) I want to be able to save seeds from those varieties that I like and not have to order new seeds every year.

On Saturday, a friend and I went to the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin. They were having a seed swap and a free workshop on seed saving. The weather was beautiful for a road trip and the conversation in the car was wonderful. Neither of us knew quite what to expect. We were greeted as soon as we walked in the brown barn and the process was explained to us. They had small, empty envelopes and four tables with an assortment of seeds. Some were purchased but many were saved and shared by

individuals. There was no cost and one could just help herself to whatever number of seeds she thought she'd use this year. My friend and I both feel we need to help plan an event like this in our own area. After we browsed the seeds for a while, a workshop was condcuted upstairs by an enthusiastic gardener, Clint. He explained the process for various types of plants and had pictures as well. At the end, we all mentioned what we thought we'd try to save this year. I want to save tomato and beet seeds. Since the beets are biennial, I'll have to winter some over and plant them in the spring.

Food is such a comfort and there is nothing better than eating a meal of items that one produces. Comfort also comes from gardening. Learning to grow and preserve food is necessary. However, it is also important to save seeds. Self-sufficiency is but one reason. Helping to maintain the biodiversity is another. Our ancestors did this routinely as part of every day life. The narrowing of the gene pool and creating hybrids may result in our food supply being more vulnerable. Saving seeds can also save money and be an exciting challenge.

Whenever I start seedlings, I always have meticulous records. However, as the plants grow and I repot them, I tend to be less certain what is what. My goal is to do a better job with that this year. And if I am going to save seed, I want to make certain I am not giving people something that is mislabeled. Time will tell if I meet my goal.

Planting seeds and gardening can be like buying a lottery ticket, although I think the odds are better. Sometimes a person puts great care into raising a seed and nurturing it all season only to have a pest or weather prevent it from providing fruit. Most of the time, we get something.

How many seeds can a seed saver save if a seed saver saves her seeds? Happy gardening!