Seed Saving: Family Heirlooms for Your Garden

MARIE FLANAGAN (3)

I’m a daughter of a seed saver. Each year, my mom carefully harvests and saves seeds from her prolific garden. A practical woman, she also taught me how to save seeds, so the beans, tomatoes, and dill that I plant today are the same seeds of the same garden goodies that I ate as a kid. The tradition is nostalgic and interesting to me. Each time I pinch a “rattlesnake pole bean” or a “scarlet runner bean” seed between my fingers, I think of my mom, her hard work, and her beloved garden. These seeds are my family’s heirlooms.

Seed savers are especially interested in the concept of heirloom varieties. The Seed Savers Exchange defines an heirloom as "any garden plant that has a history of being passed down within a family, just like pieces of heirloom jewelry or furniture. Some companies have tried to create definitions based on date, such as anything older than 50 years."

Now you can become part of the  ever-growing seed saver/heirloom seed movement. The Annual Seed Saver’s Exchange will be taking place at the Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Elk River, Minn. this March 10 at 2 p.m.. The historic farm has been leading seed-saving activities in Minnesota since 1981. Seed saving enthusiasts will gather and celebrate the seed saving tradition with seed art and a gardening presentation. Following the presentation, a seed swap will take place. Seed savers carefully package their seeds and bring them to swap with other seed savers, and the folks at the Kelley Farm make some of their saved seeds available. And you know what’s really cool? You don’t have to bring seeds in order to take some home. The event is free and open to the public and is for novice and expert gardeners alike.

Can’t make the event? No problem. You can still get your green thumbs on some saved seeds by visiting a local store with a Seed Savers Exchange rack. Here’s a list of locations selling Seed Savers seeds:

Abrahamson Nurseries 20021 St. Croix Trail N Scandia, MN 55073 651-433-2431	Greenwood Plants 6904 NW 18th Ave. Rochester, MN 55901 507-282-1988
Abrahamson Nurseries 2100 Tower Dr. W Stillwater, MN 55082	Hillside Greenhouse 1934 4th Ave. Windom, MN 56101 507-832-8300
Albert Lea Seed House 1414 West Main St. Albert Lea, MN 56007 800-352-5247	Just Food Coop 516 S Water St. Northfield, MN 55057 507-645-7415
Amelia's Flower & Garden Shoppe 910 W 36th St. Minneapolis, MN 55408 612-208-1205	Kingsley Mercantile 2 Main Ave. N Harmony, MN 55939 507-886-2323
Andrew Skoog 3500 Vicksburg Ln. #334 Minneapolis, MN 55447 612-804-1143	Linden Hills Co-op 3815 Sunnyside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-1159
Becker Pet & Garden 1008 Washington Ave. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501	Linders Garden Center 270 W Larpenteur Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55113 651-488-1927
Becker Pet & Garden 1008 Washington Ave. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501	Mazopiya 2571 Credit Union Dr. Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-233-9142
Bluff County Co-op 121 W 2nd St. Winona, MN 55987 507-452-1815	Mississippi Market 1500 W 7th St. Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-690-0507
By The Woods/Diggin' In 78 W 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317	Mississippi Market 1810 Randolph Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55105
City Center Market 122 Buchanan St. N Cambridge, MN 55008 763-689-4640	Moms Food Co-op 122 N Buchanan St. Cambridge, MN 55008
Cook Country Coop 20 East First St. PO Box 1433 Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-2503	Mother Earth Gardens 3738 42nd Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-2296
Delano True Value 1005 Crossings Dr. Delano, MN 55328 763-972-7272	Rainbow Food Coop 103 S Main St. Blue Earth, MN 56013 507-526-3603
Drummers Garden Center 281 Saint Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-4877	Sailers Greenhouse 17011 Sunset Ave. Shakopee, MN 55379 952-403-0630
East Side Food Co-op 2551 Central Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 612-788-0950	Seward Coop 2823 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-338-2465
Eggplant Urban Farm Supply 1771 Selby Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55104 651-645-0818	Super Fresh Produce 2101 4th St. NW Austin, MN 55912 507-438-2358
Good Earth Food Co-op 2010 Veterans Dr. Saint Cloud, MN 56303 320-253-9290	University of MN Lanscape Arboritum 3685 Arboretum Dr. Chaska, MN 55318 952-443-1403
The Granary Food Coop 47 2nd St. NW Ortonville, MN 56278 320-305-9685	Viola Nursery and Greenhouse 3120 100th Ave. NE Eyota, MN 55934 507-259-3272
Grassroots Cooperative 1917 2nd Ave. Anoka, MN 55303 763-427-4340	Vintage Farmer 41 Oak Ave. S Annandale, MN 55302 763-691-3925

Cross posted from: Seed Saving: Family Heirlooms for Your Garden - Twin Cities Taste - February 2013 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]