Seeds

Why Save Seeds?

I want to share with you some practical, meaningful and insightful reasons why I save plant seeds.

Community Gardening
Seed saving and sharing go hand-in-hand. Share them with neighbors, friends and family to help them plant a more diverse and planet friendly garden and, in addition, teach them how to save their own seeds.

Save Money
It is much less expensive to grow your own plants. For a fraction of the cost, I am able to grow plants for neighbors, friends, family and myself. So by growing food from seeds you have saved, you can significantly reduce the cost of producing healthy food and increase your self-reliance.

Preserve Genetic Diversity
Lots of great varieties I grow are hard-to-find seeds that have been given to me by other collectors. I have neighbors that have brought me seeds from plants grown in their native countries. I grow dried beans that are from Portugal and not available in any  catalog I receive. Most of all, saving seeds from plants that are in danger of disappearing is very satisfying!

Flavor
In the past, I have grown the best tasting vegetables only to discover their seeds are not available the following year. Savers never have this problem!

Save the Pollinators
Insect pollinators perform a billion dollar service each year in the United States alone and many of these species are in decline. After many of your plants have bloomed,  choose not to dead head and wait while they produce seeds. Therefore you are providing invaluable food for bees, butterflies and beetles.

Preserve History and Culture
Every seed holds a connection to the future and the past. Not only are you saving hard to find seeds, but what you are preserving  you will be able to pass on to future generations. The stories of our plants connect us to our history, our culture, our family and our sense of who we are. Preserve and participate in this ancient tradition!