Bolting basil, crinkly flowers, and waning harvests of tomatoes and peppers signal the close of another growing season for home gardeners in Michigan. Instead of cutting back or clearing out non-producing plants, consider saving some of their seeds before local wildlife stores them away in their bellies.
Seed preservation is an age-old, sustainable practice that strengthens the bond between people and the land while safeguarding diverse and heirloom varieties for future generations. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do.
Why Save Your Seeds?
- Planet Care: Unless you’re buying locally at places like Nature and Nurture Seeds in Dexter or Great Lakes Staple Seeds in Ortonville, seeds are often shipped from faraway places – especially if they come from large seed companies. These seeds are typically shipped in plastic or other non-recyclable materials, adding to your environmental footprint. Seed saving is a zero-waste way to grow your garden year after year!
- Money, Money, Money: When seed-buying season comes around, it’s hard to resist buying shiny new varieties or ones you’ve never tried. When you save seeds from your star producers, you don’t need to make new purchases of the same plants you grow year after year. It’s a great way to stretch your garden budget!
- Preserve and Protect: Some plant varieties, particularly heirlooms or native species, are disappearing due to large-scale commercial farming, which often focuses on a narrow range of crops (think: corn, soy, wheat). By saving seeds from these plants, you help preserve their genetic diversity and ensure their survival for future generations.
- Spread the Love: Seed saving creates the opportunity to share or swap seeds with others! Gardeners might find a seed bank at their local library, participate in a seed swap, or donate to seed banks with gathered seeds. Additionally, saved seeds make an awesome gift for friends and family.
How Do You Save Seeds?
The process of saving seeds is simple but taking care in the process is important to make sure those seeds are good for the following year! Here are a few tips to get started:
- Gather: At the end of the growing season, select seeds from your healthiest, strongest plants. Not sure how? Make a quick internet search on your specific plant! Be sure the seeds are fully mature before harvesting.
- Dry ‘em up: Allow your seeds to dry completely before storing. If they have any moisture, there’s a chance they’ll rot. To dry seeds, clean them and spread them out in a single layer on an airy surface, like paper towels or a mesh screen, in a well-ventilated, dry area. Allow them to dry completely for a few days to weeks until they are hard and brittle.
- Keep them Safe: Use paper bags, envelopes (like the one below!), or even old baby food jars to store your dried seeds. It’s best to avoid plastic bags, which can trap moisture. Be sure to label each container with the seed variety and the harvest date.
Become a more self-sufficient gardener and connect with your community by saving and sharing your seeds. You’ve got this!
DIY Seed-Saving Packet
Use our step-by-step guide to create a packet made using just one sheet of paper, to store your seeds! This is an easy low-cost way to organize seeds for the following year. Show us your seed-saving packets by tagging #tastethelocaldifference for the chance to show the world your seed-saving prowess!
Additional Seed Saving Resources:
- Community Seed Network
- SeedSavers
- Seed Sovereignty
- Center for Food Safety
- Kid’s Gardening Activity
- MI Seed Library
- Seed Stories Podcast
- The Michigan Connection See Collection
Further Reading:
- Finding Strength in Seeds
- Know Your Farmer: Nature & Nurture Seeds
- Local Seeds Offer Blueprint for Community Driven Food System
Emily Row is the Director of Communications at Taste the Local Difference. Contact her at [email protected]