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Grassroots seed-saving communities have made a strong comeback. The philosophy behind the grassroots movement is: saving seeds can be a safeguard for a family’s food crop in the event of any catastrophe. Or, saving seeds is a savings account that can’t evaporate into thin air. After two decades of purchasing seeds from commercial seed growers, I have branched away from using hybrid seeds. I have a deep desire to save seeds of unusual or heritage vegetables. Gardeners in the U.P. can join the effort. Seed saving in the U.P. requires no special trick except to mimic nature. Gardeners choose a few choice veggies and let them “go to seed.” Next, the gardener lets the seeds dry completely and keeps them in the dormant stage until spring. It’s as easy as finding a dark cool place (this keeps seeds from sprouting prematurely).

If you’re new at seed saving, try beans, peas and tomatoes first. Beans and peas require the dry method: If a few pods have turned brown and dry on the vine or in the harvest basket, pluck them, separate the seeds and dry them completely. Thirty pods of peas and beans will each yield about 75 seeds. Not only label them, but add the year date- most seeds keep about four years. My neighbor, Connie, found some seeds her husband had saved from over four years ago (no date was recorded and she had to rely on memory). Half of the seeds sprouted leaving patches that needed re-seeding. Often our summer is too short for a patch replant, so it is wise to put the year/date atop the seed jar.

Heirloom tomato seed saving requires the wet method: Cut ripened fruit in half and squeeze out the jelly-like seeds. Put the seeds in a glass of water in a warm location. Stir once a day and after three days, a fungus will grow on top. Shake and the larger seeds will settle at the bottom. Scoop the larger seeds out and put them in a fine mesh strainer and rinse. Let seeds dry on newspaper for two days, turning each seed once with tweezers. Place in a dark cupboard and mark your calendar for March 2010. In a few months, gardeners will happily plant their heirloom seeds in trays of perculite mix, nurturing strong seedlings for transplanting in late May. Last year, I successfully saved seeds from an unusual heirloom tomato plant. A Cherokee Purple was a gift from my neighbor, Connie, who purchased several hardy plants while traveling back to Marquette from her home state of South Dakota in 2008. The “plum” tomatoes were as tasty in 2009 as 2008. And, YUP, I’m saving this heirloom’s seeds once again.

Happy Halloween!

For more info: www.virtualseeds.com and www.wintersown.org and www.seedsave.org 

TV6 Contributor - Donna Campbell, Master Gardener

Check out our TV6 Family Garden page for daily tips, local growing tips, and news and video, plus helpful links to gardening fun.