The so called "Monsanto Protection Act" recently passed by Congress has made the importance of saving seed by groups and individuals all the more important. This act appears to make Monsanto somewhat above the law in that they do not have to label their products as GMO or altered, and they can sue just about anyone who buys their seed and saves it or has their plants pollinated by a Monsanto seed plant or product?! Other countries across the world are beginning to ban this type of Monsantopoly and the altered products they bring with them. Things like BT cotton and Roundup Ready soy and corn. These altered products appear to harm the ecological diversity and the pollinators (bees and insects) that keep the diversity working.
The way things are going we are headed for high food prices, war and famine. We are also losing a farmer every thirty minutes (worldwide) to suicide over issues with seed, lawsuits, and finances associated with having no control over your farm and the price of the seed that they are hog tied into buying.
It is exrememly important for all of us to know how to save seeds that are NOT GMO or altered and are NOT owned by a Monsanto company who can sue us for saving them! It appears that in the near future that seeds may in some way become currency. You can Google the issue and make your own decisions but mine is that Congress has given a giant company an even bigger hand in the seed and farm market (they owned more than 40% of the market just a few years ago and Im sure that has grown since then), to the detriment of food and people worldwide.
I don't claim to be an expert in the seed saving world but some seeds are easy to save with just a few simple tools. I like to use window screens and paper towels and newspaper for drying the seed, and ones that need to have a cold cycle I either refrigerate or put in the freezer in ziplock bags. There are lots of great reference materials on seed saving both online and in the library as well in case you need to update information in your area. Dont be afraid to try it though. We recently started two new lemon trees from seed that we saved from an organic lemon we bought at a local grocery. We also have saved acorn squash, tomato and pumpkin with good results. Simply lay two layers of paper towels on the table, write on it what you are saving, and lay the seed in a single layer on the paper towel until they are good and dry. Then store them until it's your season to plant them!
For storing the seed I love empty pill bottles. I know we all hate plastic, but it is a great way to recycle the bottles, and for some of our vitamins I can get them in glass bottles so it is a non issue as long as I clean them out well. Prescription and vitamin or aspirin bottles can be rinsed out and have a blank mailing label stuck onto them for writing all the pertinent information on. I include the type of seed, the date I saved them, whether it is a hybrid or heirloom, and for tomatoes whether it is determinate or indeterminate. Make sure to put the year on so you will have a reference for how long your seed will be viable as well.
A great resource for seed saving and for purchasing great seed is the Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.org They have webinars available on seed saving and other issues, as well as having a seed exchange system. I have not yet used the exchange system but I have viewed a webinar or two and find them very useful. I also like Seeds of Change for "save the world" seeds. www.seedsofchange.com and one of my new favorite companies is D.Landreth Seeds www.landrethseeds.com this is the oldest seed company in the United States and it is rumored that Ben Franklin has purchased seed from them. Their prices are great, the catalog is beautiful, and it is really fun to shop at a company that has been in the business of helping America garden for so long! I have to give credit for that find to one of the podcasts I listen to "Growing your Grub" which you can find on Itunes and is a free download, or if you look at the blogs I follow to the right you will find the website there. Good stuff!
There are also some local groups who have seed exchanges too - see if your local permaculture guild or Cooperative Exchange Service has a seed exchange program. Ask around your local farmers market to see if there isnt an exchange near you. If nothing else just try to save a seed and make it grow! Have fun!
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