Seed Saving: Why, How to, and Who doesn't want you to
This workshop will explore the importance of saving seeds and genetic biodiversity, as well as what to consider throughout the growing season and how to end up with seed from plants you grew for the next season! There will also be updates about bills before Congress that would potentially criminalize free and open-pollinating seeds, which mirror what has taken place in post-occupation Iraq.
details
- when: saturday, april 18th, 2009, from 5:25 pm - 6:55 pm
- to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2009 Boston Skillshare.
- facilitated by: colleen and andrew
lesson plan
We'll start with introductions and talking about what experiences people in the room have had with seed saving. Our primary focus will be on edible plants.
Other topics we'll cover include:
Reasons to save seed
Annuals vs. biennials, and perennials
Vegetative reproduction (ex. potatoes, garlic, shallots, skirret)
Pollination
Selecting seeds to save (diversity, quality of the plant)
Seed saving methods, and our specific experiences with saving tomatoes, beans, corn, squash, garlic, hot peppers, sunchokes.
Corporate control of seeds
Beyond the how-to's, we'd like to share information about bills before Congress that would potentially criminalize free and open-pollinating seeds, which mirror what has taken place in post-occupation Iraq.
We hope this could be a catalyst for seed exchanges in & around Boston, and potentially the creation of a seed library.
facilitator experience
Colleen and Andrew have been learning about growing food and the problems with industrial agriculture for years. In the past couple of years we've been starting to grow a significant portion of our food and have begun saving our own seeds in earnest.
We're not experts when it comes to seed-saving, but we know enough to help people get started with thinking about and practicing this important skill for survival.
intended audience
anyone who is interested in learning more about saving seeds and the latest moves by corporations in their quest to dominate the food supply!