The end of the produce season is upon us, and that means it’s time for seed saving! It’s something I just started doing this year, but really it’s one more step into being more independent and regaining power in your own health, kitchen, and garden! 🙂
We’ll see next year if it worked. I read somewhere that if you bought a vegetable or fruit that you liked (as long as it’s GMO-free, heirloom and organic, of course), then why not save the seeds and try planting it in your own garden next year? It really is that simple (except for fruit trees that require more work). So, this year I got some cute organic local mini-watermelon, so I kept some seeds. I also kept seeds from my peppers, hot peppers and cayenne peppers (that one of my neighbours gave me).
It’s really just a matter of getting the seeds out of whatever it is you want to keep (instead of throwing it out), remove the flesh, put the seeds evenly on a paper towel and let them dry for several days, then put into a small paper envelope or old seed package (don’t forget to write on the package what it is!), and that’s it! Keep in a dry and not too hot area until next planting season the following year. It’s that easy.
Once you get the habit of keeping these, there’s really no stopping you and you can literally have free food on an almost infinite timeline. So, yes, you can actually get FREE organic food! How awesome is that?!
I sure wish I had a bigger garden. Maybe I’ll see if one of my neighbours might let me use their backyard next year in exchange for some organic produce. I’d love to start a backyard-garden sharing program in my neighbourhood, for people who have tiny, or no backyard.
Check out this cool blog to see cool pictures of seed saving: http://littlecityfarm.blogspot.ca/2013/09/seed-saving.html
And for more info on how to save seeds, check out Seeds of Diversity.
sacha says
This is an amazing idea. And to think its free and requires your own labour. I would love to do this and share it with the kids. I have no garden space though. You mentioned a sharing garden. Well I was thinking to myself the other day while apple picking, and I thought imagine if someone had a huge organic garden ? And we could come by the truck load and pay a fee (per bag) and pick the veggies and fruit we want? Then instead of giving our money to the super markets we could be supporting our local farmers. I know I would like to pick my own food. I do it anyway on a shelf so why not in a garden?
I love this post. I will be sharing it!
EyeCandyPopper says
What you describe sounds more like going to a small local organic farm and buying directly from them. Some have ‘pick your own’ for certain things sometime. The idea behind garden sharing is to share the work/$ involved in taking care of the garden all season long and then sharing the reward (food) during harvest time. I’ve heard of some elderly people allowing neighbours to use their backyards for free to have a vegetable garden in it, and then they get free fresh veggies out of it. 🙂 Win-win for everyone.
thirteenthreflection says
really interesting, I do the same , thanks 🙂
shinygreenlife says
Thanks for the post – I actually wondered was it the same seeds from the fruit that you plant or not. Now that I’ve typed that out I realise how silly I am – I guess I can colour my hair whatever, but I’ll always be blonde 🙂 Will def be saving my seeds now!!
EyeCandyPopper says
hehe no worries! That’s why I decided to talk about it, because we live in a society so disconnected from nature, most people don’t make the connection between the food we eat and the seeds needed to produce more food.
If you save your seeds, make sure they are organic/non-GMO or heirloom 🙂
Janet says
Hi. I just found your blog today and am so glad I did 🙂
I plant heirloom, organic veggies every year with my kids – helps us all remember where our food really comes from – but we’ve never saved the seeds. I keep thinking we should move to that next step so thanks for this reminder. Hope they grow beautifully for you next year 🙂
Janet
EyeCandyPopper says
Great job you’re doing with the kiddos!
Thanks for stopping by Janet! Welcome!
Cred says
Just a suggestion for saving seed from tomatoes- apparently they require fermenting to become viable. Cleaning them and drying the seeds is not enough. You can just google how to prep tomato seeds. I’ve never tried it because I’ve never had proper light for starting seeds indoors. Rather I buy my pepper and tomato seedlings from my farmers market. I will just save seeds from veg that I can just directly sow into the ground. It’s always so exciting to see what comes up.
Farmers market a great place to find organic, heirloom seedlings. I’ve found it hard to find them in large nurseries or garden centres. Plus I get some really cool varieties that are rarely seen in the usual places- last year I grew stevia and eucalyptus (although, the eucalyptus I grew indoors).
Happy growing!
Eyecandypopper says
yes, I’ve heard that too, which is strange because I’ve planted my own (unfermented) tomato seeds before and it worked, so I’m not sure. And lucky you! growing a eucalyptus is pretty awesome! I’m guessing you live in a tropical area? There’s no way I could grow that in Canada! 😉
Cred says
Nope, I’m in Canada (southern Ontario)- the stevia and eucalyptus I grew in pots on my patio and brought inside for winter.
Eyecandypopper says
very cool!!