Strengthening the Roots

I am fortunate to be attending a summit for seed and food justice in Santa Cruz this weekend.  Gathered here under the redwoods on a beautiful campus are the leaders of organic seed saving, gardening and co-op sustainability.  With classes and work groups like transforming landscapes, food sovereignty, and  how to create a seed sharing library, my mind is filled with new ideas and concepts.

I learned about F1 hybrids, the true meaning of heirloom seeds, open air pollination and many other concepts that guide the organic seed saver. I also had the chance to network with folks that are willing to share guidance and support as I continue to build community around edible landscapes.

In the afternoon I had a chance to relax in one of the campus gardens.  The soil smelled so alive.  It was inspiring to say the least.

Saving seed is somewhat of an art form.  The practice ranges from simple saving of seeds, to in-depth development of stable strains.  The gardeners who practice seed saving are serious about what they do, yet open and willing to share their knowledge.

Don Tipping of Siskiyou Seeds spoke about the concepts of building higher quality seeds, and how to guide plant adaptability to meet the desires of the grower.  David King led a group discussion on urban pollenation.  He helped form the Seed Library of Los Angeles.  The whole day was filled with solid knowledge and deep conversation about ecology.

If your interested in getting some great seeds to start your garden, check out Seed Savers Exchange at seedsavers.org  And if you grow them, let some of them go to seed, and begin to start your own heirloom variety!