Seed Saving: Sowing Possibility
FOOD & DRINKby LoaTree | on February 22nd, 2013 | 0 comments
http://loatree.com/2013/02/22/seed-saving-sowing-possibility/
Emerging ‘food security’ discussions have increasingly focused on
ways to support small scale farming, home gardening endeavors, and on
creating avenues for localized distribution of food products. Making
changes to existing zoning and health laws that hamper these efforts are
also important components now being considered in municipalities across
the country. Perhaps the most critical aspect for localizing food and
addressing food security, however, is having access to high quality,
clean and diverse seed stock.
Every year, more and more cultivar varieties of seed ill suited for the
global marketplace are being cast aside in favor of a limited number that
‘fit the bill.’ Smaller seed companies that sell heirloom and older
established varieties for localized markets are being bought up by larger
companies with little interest in maintaining bio-diverse, highly
nutritious varieties, instead focusing on those that can be shipped and
that have a relatively long shelf life. This trend is alarming.
In a localized food economy, a small farmer or home gardener can take
advantage of literally thousands of varieties that would not necessarily
do well on a large scale farm. Many of these ‘heirloom’ and heritage
varieties provide superior nutrient content and flavor to their big
market counterparts. So, the disappearance of those small businesses and
farmers that have traditionally provided localized or native seed stock
does not bode well for those seeking to increase the food security of a
particular region.
Saving seed from varieties that grow best in one’s bio-region and provide
great nutrition is the best way for groups and individuals to maintain
access to these crops.
Creating localized seed stock is important, cutting edge work. Growing
and selecting the best specimens for seed stock and then nurturing them
to a successful maturation will generally yield high quality seeds. Some
varieties are easier to save seed from than others, but it’s not rocket
science. It’s possible to become proficient at saving many types of
seeds. Learning from experienced seed savers is an important asset in any
community, and with national and international debates raging over seed
patents, ‘ownership’ of seed stock by multinational corporations, and the
future of farming in an era of climate change, the time to learn this
important skill is now.
The Seed Saving Guild of Santa Barbara, a program of the Foodbank of
Santa Barbara County, is a newly formed effort dedicated to the promotion
of locally sourced seed stock. Santa Barbara is fortunate to have a
formidable cohort of seed saving experts such as Marshall Chrostowski,
Larry Saltzman and Jerry Sortommae. The Santa Barbara Seed Saving Guild
will provide working demonstration sites at Pacifica Graduate Institute,
Mesa Harmony Project, Fairview Gardens and the Huerta Project that will
not only yield quality seed stock but also provide hands-on learning
opportunities for the entire Santa Barbara community.
For those in Santa Barbara, a workshop will be held Saturday, February
23, from 3-5 at Mesa Harmony Garden. We will be planting varieties of
heirloom lettuce. Everyone is welcome to attend. Plan to get down and
dirty and volunteer to help with the on-going growing efforts. It’s all
free of charge.
For those outside of Santa Barbara or California, Seed Savers Exchange is
a non-profit organization based in Iowa dedicated to saving and sharing
heirloom seeds, and serves as a great resource for those looking for
additional information. Native Seed Search out of Arizona is another
great resource focusing on the cultivars from the southwestern region of
the United States, including Northern Mexico.
For more information, contact me at ocarmon@foodbanksbc.org. Let’s get
growing!!
-Oscar Carmona, guest contributor
Oscar Carmona, owner and operator of Healing Grounds Nursery, has spent
the last 25 years helping connect people, plants, and the planet. He has
taught sustainable landscape courses, gardening classes and home
consultation for better living throughout California. He also manages
food education programs for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara
County.
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.org
www.sbpermaculture.org
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