The document discusses guidelines for collecting, cleaning, storing, and sharing seeds through a community seed bank on Kauai. It provides instructions on collecting ripe, high quality seed and cleaning seeds to remove debris and diseased seeds. It explains that most seeds are orthodox and can be dried for storage, while some tropical fruit seeds are recalcitrant. The document promotes establishing a community seed bank to provide local growers with island-adapted varieties, reliable access to seed, and a more resilient food system.

1. Seed Collection
Cleaning, Saving &
Storage
Paul Massey, Director Regenerations Botanical Garden
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank & Library

2. Collection
! Collect high quality seed
! Make sure the seed is ripe!
! Cut test
! Timing
! Dry seeds asap upon full
ripeness
! Use breathable bags for
collecting dry seeds
! Plastic bags for fleshy fruits until
cleaning
! Keep out of sunlight & heat
! Collect from the best for
cultivated; random for wild

3. Why Clean Seed?
! Reduce bulk of non-seed material (pods, twigs,
flesh, etc.) for easier drying & storage
! Protect the health of the seed by:
! Removing insects & infested seeds
! Removing moldy, dead, and germinating seeds
! Disinfecting with H202/Disinfesting with
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank & Library

4. Storage Categories
Orthodox Seed –water can be removed safely
>90% seeds are orthodox
Intermediate Seed – some water can be removed
Recalcitrant Seed – water removal is lethal
tropical fruit seeds can tend to be recalcitrant
Source: Robin Probert, Millennium Seed Bank Project
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank & Library

5. Storage Basics
! Dry + Cool is the
magic formula
! These conditions
slow the
metabolism of the
seed, extending its
life
! Silica gel and
other desiccants
makes drying seed
easy
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank & Library

6. Storage Basics
! Once dried, store in an
airtight container
! Store in refrigerator is
safest–freezing can harm
seed
• When you take sealed
container out of fridge,
let it come to room
temperature before
opening
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank Library

7. Kaua`i Community
Seed Bank
Paul Massey, Director Regenerations Botanical Garden
Kaua`i Community
Seed Bank Library

8. Why have a community seed
bank?
! Varietal Species choices
determined by local growers…us!
! Island adapted seed
! Reliable Access
! Makes our community stronger
and more resilient
Kaua`i Community
Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

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Seed Bank Library

34. ! a web-based tool for sharing valuable
planting material and associated knowledge
! empowers our community to increase production
and distribution of locally adapted seedcurrently
seeking sources of funding
Kaua`i Community Kaua‘i Community College
Seed Bank Library