Seed Library

A decade ago, a librarian in New York had a wonderful idea to add seeds packets to the library where he worked. People can 'check out' the seeds in the Spring and then return them in the Autumn after harvest. Since then the idea has taken off and now there are more than 150 similar programs in place. 

The purpose is to connect people with heirloom plants which will grow in a regions specific climate. People take the seeds in the Spring, plant them, and then once the plant has gone to seed the gardener will return the seeds to the library. 

And I'm lucky enough to have a Seed Library located very close at hand! 

Check these links to see if there is a Seed Library close to you.

Hudson Valley Seed Library

Sister Seed Lending Libraries

A Growable Card

With Mother's Day right around the corner, here is an idea that would make any Mom smile! A card that contains flower (or veggie) seeds right in the paper. And it can be made right in your very own kitchen!

Click here to go to Make and Takes site for directions.

The Seed Industry ~ Part 2

What can we, as Gardeners, do to Save Our Seeds? To prevent those wonderful heirloom varieties from becoming extinct?

To begin, we can save the seeds from heirloom and open-pollinated varieties. The seeds from these two types of plants will grow true to the parent plant. Join a seed exchange. Many of these can be found online or even start a seed exchange in your local neighborhood. One of the largest is the Seed Savers Exchange.

Or purchase your seeds from companies that are part of the Organic Seed Alliance. The"Organic Seed Alliance is founded on the belief that seed is both our common cultural heritage and a living natural resource fundamental to the future sustainability of food production."

Grow NATIVE plants. Plants which are native to your own locale are much easier to establish and can handle what Mother Nature throws at them. Native plants will divide easier and will generally bless you with seeds that grow true. All too often those 'pretty plants in the catalog' can become invasive species and crowd out the Native Flora. Check with your local Extension Office or search the web for a list of invasive plants in your State. You might be surprised what you find.

Almost every State in the Nation has a Native Plant Society with local chapters that have regular plant sales. Many wonderful and sometimes rare heirloom plants can be found at these sales. Search out the nurseries in your area or online that sell Native Plants. It is well worth the time spent in this search. You will be rewarded with glorious plants as well as helping out a small business with your purchases.

** Thank you everyone for the wonderful links you gave yesterday! **

The Seed Industry ~ Part 1

This is the time of year, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, when Seed and Plant catalogs begin to arrive in the mail. How easily we can be mesmerized by the gorgeous palette of colors and the luscious greens. Especially when we look out our window and see snow and ice covering the landscape.


The varieties of plants seem to be endless in those catalogs - but if you will notice, the catalogs are all beginning to carry the same plants. The diversity of plants and seeds that are available to the public is dwindling. Why?

Because the top seed companies now control about a third of the worldwide seed trade. As these giant companies buy out smaller companies, only top selling plant varieties are kept. It is the open-pollinated, heirloom varieties that are most often dropped from the sales list. These companies only want to sell the plants that they own. And yes, it is possible for a company to own a plant.

Laws were passed in 1930 and 1970 allowing certain plants to be patented on the basis of their genetic coding. Now anyone who grows a patented variety without holding a license from the patent holder can be sued.


Farmers and Gardeners traditionally saved seeds to grow next year's crop. But if the plant variety is patented, then the seed saving is illegal. And seeds collected from hybrid plants do not always grow true to the parent plant. A throwback to a genetic ancestor may grow from one of the seeds. Fresh patented seeds must be purchased every year. Thus causing the cost of seeds to rise. And quite frequently a Farmer must raise a certain type of plant because the cannery they sell to requires it.

Tomorrow, what we can do to Save Our Seeds.
If you would like to read more on the Seed Industry, Click Here.

Seeds, Shrooms, and Swaps

I'm going to start by revealing my third partner for the recent PWGL Little Tokens of Love Swap. It was Lynn Krestel of Richmond, British Columbia. She makes the most gorgeous jewelry! She sent me a beautiful keychain made with vintage beads and Swarovski Crystals. I just LOVE it! Thank you Lynn!

And here is what I sent her.

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Here's the batch of mushrooms which I made for Sonya's Mushroom Swap.

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And now on to the seeds.......
For the last few years I have been growing gourds. And I will again this year. Luffa, bushel, apple, and this year I am adding birdhouse and snake. Of course, they will all have to have their own separate corners [but more on that part in another post!]

Last year was experimental for me in growing pumpkins in the South. There are so many more diseases/bugs here than in Colorado, where I grew up gardening. My Hubby has always wanted a GIANT Pumpkin. I decided to compromise and try and grow a moderate size one. That didn't work out too well. My location wasn't the best. And the pumpkin vines didn't produce or even thrive. This year I'm trying something different. [But I'll get to that another time - I'm supposed to be talking about seeds today]

Last year I bought seeds for a Cinderella Pumpkin.

And a Full Moon or Lumina Pumpkin.


I am going to try both of them again this year and then I thought I might try some small pumpkins. Maybe the new variety Pump-ke-mon...


Or maybe Baby Boo Pumpkins.....

They're both so cute! I may be overrun by pumpkin vines come October! But that's okay by me!

January

January! Where would we Gardeners be without this month? I know, it's cold and dreary outside. The Holidays are over. The company has gone home. And how we long for those funny, sunny days of Spring!


And ALL those Plant and Seed catalogs we've been getting sure don't help the matter any!

They're such a tease! A taunt, if you will. Luring us into the depths of a gardener's would-be paradise! And I am as guilty as the rest. I look at those catalogs and dream about how my gardens would look with all those lovely flowers!

Imagining those luscious strawberries just waiting to be picked....



Smelling the fragrant perfume of the rose bush by the Garden Shed....



Seeing the butterflies and bees busy about their daily business amid the blossoms and blooms....



But we need this time to plan and sketch. And to dream. And then plan some more.

My gardens always start out with a grand design. (Whose wouldn't after looking at all those catalogs!) But they evolve over time. Usually for a much simpler, lower maintenance plan.

But that doesn't stop me from reading about and dreaming about all those wonderful plants that just won't grow here! And maybe thinking about getting just one more exotic plant for the Courtyard 'cause I know I can squeeze it into the greenhouse for the winter!



My plans this year aren't so much to add flowers, but to rearrange the ones I've already got. Shade envelopes more of a flower bed, as trees grow and their canopies enlarge. Some plants have outgrown their corner and are beginning to bully their neighbors. Others just don't like the neighborhood they're in. But I'm sure, I'll probably be able to find room for maybe one or two new acquisitions.

I must go now and look at the latest catalogs that came in today's mail!

I'll keep you posted on my finds ....