On the Value of Seed Diversity

I love talking to people about seeds because they are usually surprised of the varieties of different fruit and veg. Most of us are aware of many different types of tomatoes but when I ask people what type of garlic they like they tend to get confused and let me know that there is only one type in the store, unless it's a better class of store and they might have elephant garlic as an option as well. Well, there are many, many different types of plants/trees, some of those we have records for but they are now lost. In prior generations, families would hold on to certain seed types that worked well in an area. The seeds would be handed down from generation to generation only picking the best that would withstand the conditions that were present in that location. As we moved through the 20th century this practice was lost by most modern families and those unique seed verieties are now lost. In an attempt to preserve some of that past as well as the unique diversity of types grown in different regions, countries have gotten together to create seed vaults. The following TED talk is by a gentleman who works with the seed vault in Norway:

How to save seeds? Well, there are many, many books on saving seeds but if you are more of a kenetic learner it is always worth finding a gardener or farmer who saves their own seeds. Volunteering time in exchange for experience is always good as they get a hand and you get first hand knowledge of the preservation of seeds. Give it a try this next year and see if you can develop a seed type specific to your location or for your family. We've lost many different types of seeds/plants, now let's see if we can make a few more that can acclimate to our changing climate.