Comments on: The Seeds of Hunger: Seed Availability as a Limiting Factor http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Tue, 22 May 2012 17:23:30 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Siu Maresh http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-44081 Siu Maresh Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:22:10 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-44081 Thanks very much for this flawless publish;that is the words that retains me on observe by out the day. I have been looking around in your web site after I heard about them from a buddy and was thrilled once I was capable of finding it after searching for lengthy time. Being a avid blogger, I’m glad to see others taking initivative and contributing to the community. Simply wished to comment to show my appreciation on your web site as it is vitally difficult to do, and many writers do not get credit they deserve. I'm certain I’ll go to again and can unfold the phrase to my friends. Thanks very much for this flawless publish;that is the words that retains me on observe by out the day. I have been looking around in your web site after I heard about them from a buddy and was thrilled once I was capable of finding it after searching for lengthy time. Being a avid blogger, I’m glad to see others taking initivative and contributing to the community. Simply wished to comment to show my appreciation on your web site as it is vitally difficult to do, and many writers do not get credit they deserve. I’m certain I’ll go to again and can unfold the phrase to my friends.

]]> By: Lee http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3459 Lee Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:55:39 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3459 The folks who are really doing the work on this issue and are the serious source for open pollinated varieties and info on saving your own seed can be found here http://www.seedsavers.org/ Go to "saving heirlooms" and get the book "seed to seed" It will tell you everything you need to know about saving individual varieties. They have an amazing farm called Heritage Farm that is basically a seed bank. Check it out. The folks who are really doing the work on this issue and are the serious source for open pollinated varieties and info on saving your own seed can be found here
http://www.seedsavers.org/ Go to “saving heirlooms” and get the book “seed to seed” It will tell you everything you need to know about saving individual varieties. They have an amazing farm called Heritage Farm that is basically a seed bank. Check it out.

]]> By: Ellen http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3458 Ellen Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:04:28 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3458 It's worth keeping in mind that beans and grains purchased at the grocery store will almost always sprout and grow true to type. They may not be the best variety for every region, and germination rates can be unpredictable, but many gardeners have used the seeds from the bulk bin at the health food store with great success. I recently planted some chickpeas from my local middle-eastern store, and had about 80% germination. Not that this solves the potential seed supply crisis, but it could still prove useful in a pinch. It’s worth keeping in mind that beans and grains purchased at the grocery store will almost always sprout and grow true to type. They may not be the best variety for every region, and germination rates can be unpredictable, but many gardeners have used the seeds from the bulk bin at the health food store with great success. I recently planted some chickpeas from my local middle-eastern store, and had about 80% germination. Not that this solves the potential seed supply crisis, but it could still prove useful in a pinch.

]]> By: Idaho Locavore http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3457 Idaho Locavore Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:32:53 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3457 Freezing seeds is generally a good way to extend their life by several times over. There are some good and some not as good ways to package seeds for freezing, though, so you might want to do a google on that. Freezing seeds is generally a good way to extend their life by several times over. There are some good and some not as good ways to package seeds for freezing, though, so you might want to do a google on that.

]]> By: DS http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3456 DS Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:27:21 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3456 Seeds do need air. Sealing them in an vacuum container will effectively kill them in a short amount of time. Seeds are dormant but no dead. Seeds do need air. Sealing them in an vacuum container will effectively kill them in a short amount of time. Seeds are dormant but no dead.

]]> By: wasteweardaily http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3455 wasteweardaily Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:21:10 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3455 I would love more information on how to properly store seeds. I tend to buy more seeds than I ever get around to planting and by the next year some of the seeds are no longer viable. I have a Food Saver (like a seal a meal). It has an attachment that sucks the air out of mason jars, sealing the lid in place. Would this be a good method or is freezing all the seeds a better option? Cindy in FL I would love more information on how to properly store seeds. I tend to buy more seeds than I ever get around to planting and by the next year some of the seeds are no longer viable. I have a Food Saver (like a seal a meal). It has an attachment that sucks the air out of mason jars, sealing the lid in place. Would this be a good method or is freezing all the seeds a better option?
Cindy in FL

]]> By: Ani http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3454 Ani Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:48:04 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3454 One thing that can be helpful-if you live nearby others who also garden, is to divide up the crops to avoid cross-pollination. So one of you does the popcorn, and one down the road a ways does the sweet corn, or divide up the squash so you don't have 2 pepos or 2 maxima's for instance, but one of each, thus not causing the seed to have been crossed. It's also important for people to understand how to store seed and what is a reasonable length of time for them to remain viable- a very different story for onions as opposed to beans for instance. Thus I would hope that people won't start hording seed thus creating a shortage-and by storing it incorrectly or for too long, wasting it in any event. A link to a list of storage conditions and years of viability for seed would be a good thing to provide here perhaps?? One thing that can be helpful-if you live nearby others who also garden, is to divide up the crops to avoid cross-pollination. So one of you does the popcorn, and one down the road a ways does the sweet corn, or divide up the squash so you don’t have 2 pepos or 2 maxima’s for instance, but one of each, thus not causing the seed to have been crossed.

It’s also important for people to understand how to store seed and what is a reasonable length of time for them to remain viable- a very different story for onions as opposed to beans for instance. Thus I would hope that people won’t start hording seed thus creating a shortage-and by storing it incorrectly or for too long, wasting it in any event. A link to a list of storage conditions and years of viability for seed would be a good thing to provide here perhaps??

]]> By: kethry http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3453 kethry Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:50:02 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3453 I think this is already starting to happen in the UK, to some extent. I remember reading somewhere that for the first time this year, the sale of veg/fruit seeds has outstripped all other types of seeds. you can now buy veg/fruit seeds/plants and gardening equipment just about *everywhere*, there are so many television programmes telling us to "grow yer own", and how to do it. The waiting list for Allotments in the UK is - in most areas - years long, and many of them are under threat from councils wishing to sell the land off to developers - you only have to look at what happened to the allotments that were in the way of the new Olympic village for 2012 to see the problems allotmenteers face. the writing is on the wall for those that choose to look, i think. the biggest problem we have here in the UK is the sheer lack of space - my own garden is very small, and this is reckoned to be a large garden around where we live, there are going to be thousands of people up and down the country who don't stand a hope in hell of actually being able to grow all the stuff they need. and when it does hit, i can see gardens, especially in urban areas, being raided for vegetables. Which will make insurance claims go up too... it just doesn't end. its troubling, deeply troubling.. keth xx I think this is already starting to happen in the UK, to some extent. I remember reading somewhere that for the first time this year, the sale of veg/fruit seeds has outstripped all other types of seeds. you can now buy veg/fruit seeds/plants and gardening equipment just about *everywhere*, there are so many television programmes telling us to “grow yer own”, and how to do it. The waiting list for Allotments in the UK is – in most areas – years long, and many of them are under threat from councils wishing to sell the land off to developers – you only have to look at what happened to the allotments that were in the way of the new Olympic village for 2012 to see the problems allotmenteers face. the writing is on the wall for those that choose to look, i think.

the biggest problem we have here in the UK is the sheer lack of space – my own garden is very small, and this is reckoned to be a large garden around where we live, there are going to be thousands of people up and down the country who don’t stand a hope in hell of actually being able to grow all the stuff they need. and when it does hit, i can see gardens, especially in urban areas, being raided for vegetables. Which will make insurance claims go up too… it just doesn’t end.

its troubling, deeply troubling..

keth
xx

]]> By: Phil Plasma http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3452 Phil Plasma Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:54:23 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3452 I think I'll contact my CSA farmer and ask him about his seed supply. Though I'm just starting this spring any garden of any type, your post is prompting me to look into starting a seed supply right now as the price has not yet gone up and availability is not yet a problem. I look forward to all of your future posts, both on this topic and all others. I think I’ll contact my CSA farmer and ask him about his seed supply. Though I’m just starting this spring any garden of any type, your post is prompting me to look into starting a seed supply right now as the price has not yet gone up and availability is not yet a problem.

I look forward to all of your future posts, both on this topic and all others.

]]> By: Emily http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/comment-page-1/#comment-3451 Emily Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:52:39 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/03/02/the-seeds-of-hunger-seed-availability-as-a-limiting-factor/#comment-3451 What do you think about the problem of seed packet size? I currently grow all the kale we can eat for 6 months of the year. I bought a standard hardware store packet of kale seeds in 2001 and am only perhaps halfway through that packet of seeds! They are still strongly viable and are one of my most reliable crops. Thank goodness for small favors... I bet the first thing that happens (we're already seeing it now with the better seed companies) is that they start selling packets containing far fewer seeds. In most cases, this won't be a problem - I only need 5 or 10 kale seeds a year, so I'd rather let 20 other people split that pack of seeds with me. So perhaps that will buy us some time to ramp up seed production. Of course my calculations suggest I'll need many times my current number of packets of beans to get a "living on it and saving seed" size crop... *sigh* What do you think about the problem of seed packet size? I currently grow all the kale we can eat for 6 months of the year. I bought a standard hardware store packet of kale seeds in 2001 and am only perhaps halfway through that packet of seeds! They are still strongly viable and are one of my most reliable crops. Thank goodness for small favors…

I bet the first thing that happens (we’re already seeing it now with the better seed companies) is that they start selling packets containing far fewer seeds. In most cases, this won’t be a problem – I only need 5 or 10 kale seeds a year, so I’d rather let 20 other people split that pack of seeds with me. So perhaps that will buy us some time to ramp up seed production.

Of course my calculations suggest I’ll need many times my current number of packets of beans to get a “living on it and saving seed” size crop… *sigh*

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