Seed saving is worth it's weight in gold
Living in a throw away culture means we expect others to produce what we need. It wasn't always like this. When it comes to gardening it pays to understand a little science to understand the threat that multinational companies are posing to the concept of saving seed and growing a plant again.
If you think about it, something that produces itself again for free and gets stronger every generation is an enormous threat to the corporate profit model.
The Rastas live a simple life and have always saved their own seed. Whether it be yam heads or pepper seeds there will always be some form of seed lying around the house or on the window sill.
It is easy to learn how to seed save and grow delicious nutritious local varieties from within your own community. Seed Saving is our roots and is fun and free and easy. Connect with other like minded individuals in your community and swap planting material.
Creating rich soil is the next step and recycling waste to make compost is the one of the ways to do it. Reduce your ecological footprint and reconnect with local ecosystems through composting, worm farming, organic gardening, and supporting the Earth’s natural lifecycle.
Keeping the vegetables seeds safe in the local community
Learn to source your own local seed from wherever you live and preserve it in the gardens of your friends and the community. Seed that has been growing and adapting to your area for perhaps generations.That way if you ever run out of seed you can be assured one of your friends, family or community gardens will have some. In the last one hundred years we have lost seventy five percent of our vegetable genetic diversity.
It is everyone's responsibility to save seed
It is up to each and every one of us to safeguard our food and save seed to grow again. If you feel that you don't know where to start there are plenty of books on the subject. Beans are an easy seed to start with as they don't cross pollinate and will come back true to type. Granted there is plenty to learn but just think of the healthy food you will grow and the money you will save. The earth and its magnificent plant and animal kingdom has provided us with all the abundance we need to thrive and be healthy. Starting your own little vegetable plot, vertical garden or window box will inspire you. Getting involved in your local community garden will give you lots of people to learn from and good healthy food for you, your family and your friends to share.
Follow these basic rules. Only grow one Cucubita maxima species in your garden. This way it is isolated from other pumpkins. If you are in a suburban area check that your neighbours aren’t growing other varieties of pumpkin nearby to avoid cross-pollination.
There is nothing better than growing your own beans. They are simple to grow, easy to harvest and delicious to eat.
It makes perfect sense to support your local food production. Sending food thousands of miles is not logical. It means that the food loses its nutritional value and with all the pollutants our bodies are having to deal with we need all the nutrition we can get these days.
Local foods and seed banks are more important than ever. Community Gardens in cities, towns and villages are making a valiant attempt to set up Community Seed banks for locally adapted varieties of food plants.