Of all the summer gardening activities, seed saving is perhaps the one I look forward to the most. There is nothing new about saving seeds and we have been saving seeds for thousands of years. Still, the task of actively saving seeds can be a bit daunting, especially for new gardeners. If you need a little more convincing, here are 5 reasons why I save seeds.
1. Saves Money
A packet of seeds is not going to be your most expensive gardening purchase but when you grow many different kinds of plants, the cost can start to add up. By saving seeds and using them year after year, you can cut down on the cost of purchasing seeds every spring
2. Availability
Something I began to notice after a few years of growing from seed was that sometimes a particular variety was not offered every year. This can be disappointing if you had great success with something previously and then can’t find it. When you save seed, you ensure that you’ll be able to grow the same variety each year.
3. Regional Adaptation
Over time, many crops can adapt to your regional conditions. This means that after a few generations, your plants can become more hardy and even begin to develop some resistance to disease and pests in your local conditions.
4. Diversity
Some of the varieties I grow, especially tomatoes, are fairly uncommon and definitely not included in standard seed catalogs. Unique varieties that I love, like West Virginia Penitentiary and Cuore Antico de Acqui Terme, are varieties that I want to see survive in the future and ensure that other gardeners can enjoy them.
5. Community
Honestly, I started saving seeds to save a little money. I quickly discovered that there is a huge, inclusive, and generous seed saving community out there. I have met some really incredible folks through both online and in person seed saving activities. One of my favorite events is my local seed banks annual seed swap. If that sounds like fun, see if you have a local seed organization and check to see if they host similar events.
Resources for Learning About Seed Saving
Books
The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds by Robert E. Gough and Cheryl Moore- Gough
This is the perfect book for beginner and experienced seed savers alike. The instructions are simple and walk you through each step of the process. I also really appreciate that they introduce some of the basics of seed biology and explain some of the terminology that could catch new gardeners off guard.
The Manual of Seed Saving by Andrea Heistinger
If there is an edible plant that you would like to save seeds from, there is a good chance it’s included in this book. Everything is grouped by plant families, rather than alphabetical, and each type has its own entry. I also love that there are pictures of what the seeds look like for each plant.
Online
Seed Savers Exchange is a “nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seeds” and is also home to our country’s largest non-governmental seed bank. In addition for being a fabulous source for purchasing seed, SSE has a really excellent educational resources for learning not just about saving seeds, but gardening in general. SSE also has a dedicated exchange where “gardeners from around the county offer seeds they’ve grown”. Full disclosure: I am a member of SSE and you can be one too!
Seed Ambassadors Project Seed Saving Guide
If you’re familiar with the seed company Adaptive Seeds, you might also be familiar with their Seed Ambassadors Project (SAP) which focuses on seed stewardship and increasing the durability of local food systems. I am a huge fan of their mission and I absolutely love this Guide to Seed Saving, Seed Stewardship & Seed Sovereignty they put together back in 2010.
