Sharing the Seeds

 

 

Look at the wealth in this box. More than money, more than a good insurance policy, having the potential for food is an embarrassment of riches.  Yes, it takes labor, and sweat, and not a little masochism, but growing your own food and controlling the source of your sustenance is profoundly liberating.  

This treasure trove arrived in a discreet brown box on my rather snowy doorstep, and is such a wonderful gift.  Facilitated through Seed Savers Exchange, the Herman's Garden program offers free seeds to community gardens and similar projects throughout the country.  For a small donation, you get a big box of the previous year's seeds (which are perfectly fine for this season's planting).  I tell you, it is dizzying to open a box so full of spring-into-summer dreams on a grey, snowy day!

What's the catch?  Well, the name "seed savers" should give you a clue.  You have to agree to save some of the seeds that you plant, to then share out with the community and continue to preserve that plant's seed heritage.  Basically, you've been given the means to create a community seed bank--for free.

I sent in my request a couple months ago, asking for seeds that could be used in the Community Garden that I coordinate.  I explained that the garden would be used by both novice and experienced gardeners, so please send seeds that even a novice could save easily.  I got tomatoes, eggplants, beans, peas, kale, cauliflower, brocolli, radishes...the works!  

In the next few weeks, I will be making calls to the local food pantry to see about coordinating gardening with their clients, and how the garden could possibly help supply their food needs during the summer months.  I also will be calling various folks to see about souping up the garden experience this summer.  I have dreams of an actual hydrant in the garden...now, to see if the meagre budget will cover it!  As well, advertising for space sign-ups needs to happen, and possibly recruiting someone to make/donate a sign.

All this, and the snow isn't going anywhere for a long while.  A gardener's work is never done, nor knows the limit of any season.