Saving seed is nothing new, in fact, it’s been a standard practice of farmers for generations. Saving seed helps to contain costs and was seen as a way to maintain control over the process. It’s an expression of self-reliance really. Though there has been a shift in recent years, seed saving is still a viable …Read More about Seed Saving by Traits and Characteristics
seeds
DIY Seed Screens
The seed savings process is pretty simple but it can become more involved for certain varieties. The challenge we’ve found in the Edible Learning Lab is in the process of separating the seed from the chaff and other organic material so that we can store just the seeds for next season. There are few tools …Read More about DIY Seed Screens
Anatomy of a Seed
Seeds are the dispersal and propagation units of most plants. There are three basic parts of a seed in the angiosperms: (a) an embryo, (b) a food storage or nutritive tissue, and (c) seed covering. Seed anatomy is specifically designed as a self-contained unit which, under the right conditions, will become a living plant. Anatomy …Read More about Anatomy of a Seed
Seedling Care
Germinating a seed is simply the first step towards a harvest. In between, there are countless steps that must be completed with precision and numerous opportunities for natural forces to derail the entire process. At the Edible Learning Lab in Buffalo, WY we have approximately 500-1000 seedlings in various stages of development at all times. …Read More about Seedling Care
Testing Your Old Seed
Last month I started getting ready for the new planting season. We’re pretty lucky here in Arizona, things get started pretty early and I wasn’t going to waste a minute of potential growing time. I did maintenance on all the planting beds, added new compost and soil conditioners, added new mulch and cleaned out any …Read More about Testing Your Old Seed