As a founding volunteer for Central Texas Seed Savers, I know how vulnerable and valuable our seeds are. Seed shortages, in addition to lack of access to ordinary food supplies due to an overly-centralized food system, are hitting seasoned gardeners and would-be veggie growers hard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Food crop varieties and native plants are being lost at alarming rates. But you don’t have to have a vault in an arctic mountain to help. You can save seeds from your garden and share them with friends. Our gardens are living archives of human history and biodiversity that keeps our food system strong. Seeds brought by our human ancestors to new lands- often during times of crisis- connect us to all of humanity.

This spring I planted an open-pollinated variety of beans called “Cherokee Trail of Tears” in my garden. I reflected on the horrid trials of the Cherokee peoples as they were forced to migrate from the Southeastern US to Oklahoma. They brought these seeds with them, hoping that the food would fortify them if they survived. Gardening is an ongoing act of hope, and these seeds that supported our human ancestors can help us too.

It’s easy. Start with one type of plant to get the hang of it. The type of plant needs to be an open-pollinated crops and/or a native plant. Research that plant to find out what the fruit and seed looks like when mature. Cultivate it in your garden. Collect the seeds. Store them in jars in your fridge. Share with friends. See notes and links below for more info. I made a seed “grab bag” in little paper lunch sacks with assorted seeds in envelopes to share with neighbors during the pandemic. I put them in a little old mailbox up by the street for people to pick up (separate from my USPS mailbox). The response has been overwhelming both in terms of demand for the seeds and emotions on my part in hearing messages of gratitude from seed recipients.

Will Bonsall has spent his life collecting and caring for rare seeds.

Habitat destruction of wild tomatoes threatens our food supply.

An extensive look at the history of the tomato: from its origins in the Americas, to its undeserved reputation as poison, to the various fights over whether it's a vegetable or fruit.

Volunteers can find rare plants once thought extinct.

Tips for beginning seed savers

Get more info at Central Texas Seed Savers.

Great plants for beginner seed savers!

Basic seed saving guidelines

a. Plan your garden to reduce cross-pollination by using isolation distances below.

b. Always save seeds from the healthiest, “true-to-type” plants.

c. Select seeds for different characteristics such as size, taste, & disease-resistance.

d. Don’t save seeds from hybrids.

e. Label your garden and packets.

f. Never plant all of your seeds in one year.

Peas & Beans (Legumes)

Plant: To ensure varietal purity isolate different varieties of beans by 100 ft and peas by 50 ft.

Harvest: Let beans and peas dry on the vine until crispy. Collect. Shell.

Know your bean species: If you know the scientific name of your bean, then you can plant one of each species and not have to worry about cross-pollination. Ex. Fava beans (Vicia faba) can be planted right next to Kentucky wonder beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Sunflower Family

Lettuce

Plant: Isolate different varieties of lettuce by 10 ft.

Harvest: Let lettuce bolt. When half the flowers have turned white & fluffy, cut off the stalk and put upside down in a brown paper bag to dry. Remove chaff.

Sunflowers

Plant: Isolate different varieties of sunflowers by ¼ mile! Other strategies are to plant lots of the same variety of sunflower and rub your hand over the flowers to increase self-pollination.

Harvest: Let sunflower head dry on plant. Collect seeds.

Nightshade Family

Tomatoes

Plant: Isolate different varieties by 10 ft.

Harvest: Collect ripe tomatoes. Squeeze pulp and seeds into a jar. Let ferment 2-3 days until a mold forms. Add water. Pour off mold, floating seeds and any pulp. Viable seeds will sink. Repeat until water is clear. Put on a labeled paper to dry.

Peppers

Plant: Isolate different varieties by 400 ft. Peppers will cross!

Harvest: Remove seeds from fully ripened peppers. Use gloves if hot. Dry.

Watch seed saving videos at RichmondGrowsSeeds.org.

Get more info at Central Texas Seed Savers.