Seed Saving - Winnipeg Canada ` For more information, Please see websites below: ` Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children = http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~ ` Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech = http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~ ` Free School Gardening Art Posters = http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~ ` Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden = http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~ ` Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success = http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~ ` City Chickens for your Organic School Garden = http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~ ` Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide = http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~

1. Seed Saving
Caroline Chartrand and
Julia Laforge
Winnipeg Seedy Saturday
March 9, 2013

2. Outline
› Introductions
› Why do we save seeds?
› Principles
› Where to start
› Maintaining purity?
› Seed Selection
› Drying and Storage
› Examples
› Further Resources

3. Why do we save seeds
› There are many reasons to save seeds:
› To save money
› To be self-sufficient
› For fun or curiosity
› To slow the rate of extinction
› As part of a family heritage

5. Where to start
› Kinds of plants
› Annuals
› Biennials
› Perennials
› Hybrids vs.
Open Pollinated

6. Where to start
› Sources of seeds
› Local/Regional vs. Canadian vs. International
› Non-profits vs. Small seed companies vs.
national/international companies
› How you choose will depend on your
motivations
› Choosing seeds also requires some thought
about your site
› Sunny or shady and size

7. Where to start
› Remember to keep records!

8. Maintaining Purity
› Population
› How many plants you grow depends on
why you’re saving seed
› If you want to maintain varietal health, you’ll
want to grow more than if you’re just growing
for yourself.

9. Maintaining Purity
› Isolation
› Pollination
› Self-Pollnating plants require less
isolation distance
› Some plants cross-pollinate
easily
› Bees and Isolation
› Flowers to plant between your
plants to slow bees
› Isolate by distance, by flowering
time, and by hand

10. Seed Selection
› A common mistake is to save
tomatoes from one plant or a
single cob of corn.
› Remember diversity is important for
varietal strength.
› You never know what “hidden
traits” a plant may have

11. Seed Selection
› When to harvest
› When it’s as dry as
possible – saving
wet seeds can lead
to problems later
on.
› When it’s ripe
› Not the same as
when you would
eat it.

12. Drying and Storage
› Things to keep in mind:
› If you want to save a large number
of varieties, you may not be able
to grow them all out every year.
› Silica gel for longer storage
› If you want to focus on developing
a variety that’s locally adapted,
you will want to grow it out every
year.

13. Drying and Storage
› Teeth and hammer tests for dryness
› Label your seeds, including year they
were last grown
› Seeds should be stored in a cool and dry
place – no plastic!

14. Drying and Storage
› Never grow out all of your seeds!!!! Always
keep some backup, just in case.
› Germination testing
› Not all seeds last the same.

16. Other resources
› www.seeds.ca
› http://goingtoseed.wordpress.com/
› http://www.seedsavers.org/

17. Thank you!!