When searching for seed, first check your neighbourhood. You may find plants that are suited to your garden, and sharing and trading seeds with local people can build strong community conweather, frost resistance, vigour, performance, appearance, lack of complicaton, day length, days to maturity, time of harvest, ease of harvest, storage, ease of cleaning, ease of preparation, eating quality, nutrition and marketability. You may also consider species that attract beneficial insects. Make sure to take notes throughout the season. Record keeping will greatly add to your understanding of your garden, preserve valuable information for future growers, and ultimately, save time and stress as you pick plants that require less maintenance and inputs.
Seeds are more than just genetic carriers.
Heirloom and open-pollinated varieties reflect years of nurturing and commitment by seed savers from an array of cultures. Passing these tiny storehouses on to the next generation is one of the most valuable gifts each of us can give. Without our help, this beautiful, diverse heritage could be irrevocably lost. The Kerr Center publishes a free bimonthly newsletter and provides assistance to farmers who seek ecological and economical methods of growing.