Seed Saving As A Road To
Diversity And Sovereignty
Written by Linda Kiker
Saving seeds is the reason humans have been able to create pathways to keep our most culturally important, delicious and vigorous crops growing year after year, for thousands of years. If you didn't know, in recent decades the ability of AG corporations to tweak the genetics on a plant, then patent the product has had disastrous effects on our ability to grow food without financial burdens for our farmers.
As a matter of fact, these companies can and do legally prevent communities from saving the seeds from their patented varieties. Additionally, the plants grown are often selected only for production and reproducibility. Beginning to see a lack of choice here? When we select for these traits alone, we often lose flavor, resiliency to weather conditions, soil conditions, drought and their ability to withstand pest pressure.
Our grocery stores offer a much more narrow set of choices than were previously available just 50 years ago. Folks, this is where we can act. Consider purchasing seeds from stewards growing in your area. Consider saving your own seeds. When we save our own seeds it will preserve these diverse lives (lest we lose them altogether).
Plants are often generous in their seed offerings, so when you begin to save seeds you will find it scales quickly. This is where you begin sharing the seeds with other community members and friends. This simple transfer of seed babes will continually develop strong genetic traits. Locally grown seed is familiar with your weather, soil and climatic changes. These are saved from your most delicious and vigorous plants.
Our Denver Local Seed Project does just that. This is the way we can confront and adapt to our climate crisis. If you'd like to participate in seed saving, please join us this Sunday, 9/20, from noon-3pm for our first of three Sip And Seed events. We'll trade knowledge, share seeds and get a bunch packed up for the spring.
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