The JOY of Seed Saving

(Continued from October's Issue of Grow Food Network Magazine)

Dan Jason from Salt Spring Seeds says,
 "Saving Seeds is easy and very rewarding.  Don't be intimidated by any rules you might read or hear about.  You can learn as go!"

These are the basics to Saving Seeds:

• How to Harvest Seeds
• Where to Store Seeds
• When to Save Seeds
• What Seeds to Save

How To Harvest Seeds:
Allow the plant to go through it's full cycle producing seeds on the plant and if possible drying on the plant, as well.  However, often in wet climates it may be necessary to allow seeds to be dried indoors on screens or newspaper.  The seeds should have a hard coating that a fingernail can not dent.  Seeds can be collected in paper bags, labelled and stored indoors until they can be cleaned and stored in glass jars, vitamin bottles, plastic bags etc.  Laying down cloth or cardboard under plants can be helpful when harvesting seeds.

Where To Store Seeds:
Seeds should be stored in dark, air tight containers, in unheated areas where minimum fluctuations occur.  One of GROW FOOD subscribers stores her seed in the freezer labelled by the month they are planted in. 

When To Save Seeds:
Seeds are ready to be picked when they have changed colour and texture.  Pods should be light brown before harvesting.  Save the best seed for the best results.

What Seeds To Save:
Start small.  Save a few varieties each year and increase as you go.  Save the seeds from the foods you eat most often.

SAVING SEED CONSIDERATIONS

• Consider the nutrition value of the foods you grow.  eg: Fava Beans and Grains
• Consider foods that can be eatten year round. eg. Dried Beans and Grains, chickpeas, lentils, and tomatoes for paste
• Buy open-pollinated seeds to make it easier for knowing which seeds you can collect.
• With climate conditions constantly changing, it's crucial to keep growing out your seed so they can continue to adapt to the changes.

SAVING TOMATO SEEDS

Soak tomato seeds in water for 3 days to ferment.  Viable seeds will go to the bottom.  The floating pulp and seeds can be poured off and seeds can be poured onto a screen to dry.


SELF POLLINATORS
(means you don't have to worry about crossing because the flowers are self pollinating and seeds will come true)
They include: beans, grains, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce

CROSSERS
(means the plants will cross pollinate by wind or bees, even a neighbour growing the same variety can cross with yours)
They include: corn, carrots, beets, squash, leeks, brassicas.
Perennial crossers include: potatoes, garlic, jerusalem artichokes

Hope this helps!

October Issue of GROW FOOD Magazine is Available

This Issue Includes:

Garden Feature with …

Richard Dwyer "Clay Soil No More!"

What To Do in the Edible

Garden in October

Ask Bill Herring…

How To Grow Great Garlic

Recipe of the Month

The Joy of Saving Seeds

Urban Gardening in Duncan, BC

Farmers Markets

Classified Ads

& Resources

$3.00 an issue or $25.00 a year (published monthly)

To order: http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/

Food Growing Heros - Cliff and Mary Ellen Stainsby

Article from Grow Food Magazine - August/Sept. 2011 Issue....continued..

Growing food is not new to this couple.  Cliff and Mary Ellen grew tomatoes commercially for 5 years selling at the local Farmer's Market in Duncan and to the chefs at Fairburn Farms.  They are like so many gardeners I meet, humbled by gardening and feeling like beginners as they try new techniques and observing the results. 

When abundance reins their gardens, they share with friends and the local food bank.

Every gardener teaches me something new and this garden tour was no different.  Cliff showed me how he plants his carrots each year using a cold frame covered with remay cloth.  The cold frame is bottomless and placed over the new garden bed where the seeds are planted and the frame keeps the cloth from resting on the carrot tops and is easy to remove to water.  Brilliant idea!

A green roof was installed on this new addition

Kiwi Fruit

Apples

To read the complete article, order August/Sept Issue of Grow Food Magazine at http://www.growfoodnetwork.com/

NEW Farmer's Market in South Cowichan

THURSDAYS IN COBBLE HILL

Having troubles growing a certain crop?

Was the timing not right for this year's weather?

Or would you like to sell your excess?

"Have your garden and eat it, too... and eat from other growers, too"

Try the Thursday Farmers Market for fresh vegetables and fruit grown on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. On occasion there will be the customary fruit shipments from the Okanagan. (Please note: At the THURSDAY FARMERS MARKET, all produce is to be free of exposure to, or application of any toxic substances from seed to the consumer taking possession. If fertilizer or treated seed is used, that food item is to have a card placed beside it when offered for sale.) Busy gardeners can also find baked goods, island-grown meat, and prepared foods like pesto and jam. And shoppers could be treated to your harvest that you might bring to market! Please call Islanders Trading 250 510 8343 for more information and note that 3-4 gardening friends are permitted to share one Full Space for vending. For larger growers that are short on time or do not like to sell, it is permitted to authorize someone else who is knowledgeable and informed to sell your produce for you. 

You are invited every Thursday, 2:00-7:00 pm. outdoors at the Cobble Hill Hall..."to market, to market, to buy some fresh food, home again home again in a satisfied mood!"

Linda (Islanders Trading) 250 510 8343
Coordinator, THURSDAY FARMERS MARKET

 thursdayfarmersmarket@yahoo.ca                  

islanderstrading@yahoo.ca

Win a Year's Subscription to GROW FOOD Magazine

THE BURLAP SACK CHALLENGE



In the August Issue of Valley Voice Magazine, we wrote an article on "Growing More Food on No Land" using burlap sacks to grow food in.  We challenged readers to think of other ways to use Burlap Sacks and the Most Interesting and Useful Idea will receive a Year's Subscription to GROW FOOD Network Magazine. 

Send ideas to growfood@shaw.ca
Deadline for entry: August 31st.

Elaine's Scott's Garden Tour

Elaine Scott infront of her Bird Protected Blueberry Patch

Elaine's everybearing strawberry deer protected patch





Elaine's Yearly Garden Plan



Kiwi Flowers



Tomaotoes grow outside in Elaine's garden successfully each year

Elaine Scott's Garden Tour

More Great Gardening Tips from Elaine:

-      Carrots and broccoli are covered with remay cloth to prevent insect infection.

-      asparagus should not be picked after the end of June.  Allow the spears to turn to fronds and build roots.

-      when beets need to be thinned, (approx 2” high) you can transplant them.

-      always allow some flowers to be blooming in your garden for the bees.

-      Elaine leaves some blackberries on the property as a food source

-      Ever-bearing strawberries produce bigger berries if you cut off the first set of flowers and the runners.  Replace the plants every 3 years.

-      Fall raspberries need a barrier to prevent the underground runners from taking over the   garden.  They also get pruned right to the ground after each season, unlike summer raspberries.

-      The Fig fruit points downward when it’s ready to be picked.

-      Beans can be planted on a continuous basis until the second week of July

-      Elaine plants her winter vegetables, cabbage, leeks,  mid July.
-      Direct seed beets in mid May
-      Direct seed Swiss Chard in March
-      Plant carrots in early May

-      Garlic scapes can be chopped and kept in the freezer

-      When garlic has 4 leaves that turn brown, it’s time to harvest.