Seeds - Ordering, Sowing, Gathering, Saving

January! Fire blazing, stack of seed catalogs, and my computer buzzing away with photos of the top new varieties for 2012. It's a gardener's rite of passage to an overflowing bed of delectable eatables by August. Then in September and October as some plants are left to go to seed, they are collected, culled through, and the prime ones put up for the following Spring. But Wait...there's more...

Just a few generations ago the Farmer was intimately involved in building and maintaining plant genetic health but today he has been relegated to an "end-user". The Farmer's direct relationship with the plant propagated diversity of our domesticated plant genetics. But today, new technology, breeding methods, and the consolidation of seed companies has all led to erosion of the plant genetic materials and now threatens biodiversity. This is why I support organic heirloom seeds and tend to shun hybrid ones. What's the difference? Saved Hybrid seeds are often sterile or do not reproduce true to the parent plant. What you get may be inedible. Heirloom seeds will reproduce the parent.
Another fly-in-the-ointment are those plants that are "open pollinated". These plants include squash, cucumbers, melon, parsley, cabbage, chard, broccoli, mustard greens, celery, spinach, cauliflower, kale, radish, beets, onion, and basil. They cross pollinate with others within their family and maintaining the original plant in a small garden is nearly impossible. So, what seeds can you save with confidence that you can grow the same plant next year? Organic heirloom seeds are the best choice for the casual gardener. Seed saving is a bit of a science but if you want to get educated on the subject you can follow this link to the Organic Seed Alliance located in Washington. Access the free download "A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers" http://www.seedalliance.org/Publications/

My first attempt at saving seed. This is fennel seed. It self sows abundantly so I don't think I'll have any issues with my saved seed.

Grass roots seed saving is a country wide phenomenon. There are many seed companies out there and surely one close to your community. Buy seed from farms and granges in your community. They will offer varieties that have been tested in and produce best for your climate.

Next time: Building and Using a Cold Frame

Third Quarter Report

Months fly by and one has hardly blinked an eye! Now that the New Year has been rung in and Christmas celebrations are a distant memory we turn our faces toward another year with fresh vigor, bursting with plans for our homestead and the implementation of those unrealized in 2011. But before I begin divulging the future let's take a short look back on the last three months.

We finally bit the bullet and replaced our old fence with a beautiful new one. It's vinyl (made with recycled materials) and surrounds the entire backyard. No more chickens roaming into the neighbors yard! Jenny loves the girls but it's just not right to let your chickens wander onto someone else's property. The hens now roam free throughout the day and put themselves to bed at night. This equals happy humans and happy hens! So, you may ask, why vinyl? First and foremost is maintenance. No more painting, staining, or repairing jumping deer damage! Our old wood fence had top pieces missing from the back hooves of deer hitting them on their way over. This takes one less chore off my long, long list. Second would be longevity and resale value. One day we will have to sell and this fence will look just as good then as it does now. 

Always willing to help our friends, we spent a day planting 300 apple and pear trees for the making of hard apple cider on Vashon Island. Keep an eye out for Dragon's Head Cider!

For Christmas we were able to bless our neighbors with baskets filled with home made canned goods, fresh made shortbread, eggs, and a bottle of our own wine. The bounty of our blessed land, even if it is just one third acre in the middle of a housing development! Life at it's fullest!

So on to 2012 we march full of hope and encouragement from our successes.

Yesterday I ordered two top-bar hives (TBH) and two nucs to inhabit them, along with a book I've been wanting to read, "The Barefoot Beekeeper" by P J Chandler. The reason I chose the TBH is that it's a natural (no chemical treatments) and sustainable way to keep bees. The philosophy of those who choose these hives is toward the bee rather than honey production. Two hives will produce plenty of honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly one household should need. Full disclosure of my adventures in beekeeping to be posted in early spring.

Beyond the regular vegetable garden fare, I have decided to plant quinoa. You may have heard of it or even eaten it. I'm told it's very easy to grow and it is quite pretty. Quinoa is an old, high-protein plant that comes from South America. It was held sacred in ancient Inca and Aztec cultures along with amaranth. Quinoa holds great potential for self-sustaining gardens in the northern hemisphere and the quality of food it offers far surpasses that of our common grains. It also comes closer to meeting the genuine protein requirements of the human body than either cow's milk or soybeans. It is also high in the amino acid lysine. Not only will we enjoy it but I'm sure with all those flowers my Italian honey bees will too.

A somewhat new technique (to the U.S. gardener anyway as arid poor countries have been using it for years) is using large burlap bags as growing containers. Today I drove to my local burlap bag up-cycler and paid $2.50 per bag for large burlap coffee bags. Keep your eyes here for video how-tos!

So, there you are! A look back, a look forward. I hope your 2012 is chock-full of projects fulfilled!