They make their own nitrogen down there, and if you fertilize 'em, they'll grow up into a bunch of vines and no pods. Throughout the South, local plant varieties have become a source of pride enveloped in the culture. For many gardeners, a sense of place and a link to the past are reason enough to save their seeds. They're very intimate with their environment. Although experimental trials have just begun, Rhoades said the heirloom varieties seem to have more resistance to drought and insects.
Studies also show the old-timey seeds have more to offer.
Rhoades and Nazarea worked on similar programs in Peru and the Philippines, respectively, before establishing the SSL program. This past summer, with the help of some UGA students, Nazarea set up a memory banking program in Ecuador. Rhoades said he plans to seek funding for the next phase of the SSL program, which will focus more on the cultural aspect of these seed savers. The seeds are a great medium for people to connect. You start talking about seeds, and then the stories begin to stumble out.