Seed Savers Growing for the Seed Library
This summer, Seeds of Diversity's member seed growers are saving 95 varieties of rare seeds for our Seed Library.
Seeds of Diversity's Canadian Seed Library is a collection of seeds that backs up the rare varieties that our members have been growing for over 30 years.
Every year, your Member Seed Directory lists all the seeds that our members grow and offer to other members. It's the most popular, and most economical, way for thousands of heritage garden varieties to be circulated from gardener to gardener.
Even though our members do their best to keep all those rare varieties available, there is always the chance that some seeds will fall through the cracks, so we collect the most endangered varieties and store them in our Seed Library for safe-keeping. Whenever those varieties aren't available from other sources, we'll be there to provide them to seed savers again.
This back-up collection is crucial, because about 70% of all the varieties in our Member Seed Directory are not available from any seed companies. Volunteer seed savers are keeping those varieties alive for all of us to enjoy, and they need back up! Thanks to donors who keep the system running, and the volunteers who grow the seeds, we've been able to keep close to 3000 varieties of rare Canadian seeds alive and available to growers.
If you'd like to help, we'll be looking for volunteers to grow seeds next year (seed saving experience is required). And don't forget, you can always help a seed saver by making a charitable donation to Seeds of Diversity. It supports our seed storage, our mailing costs, and the coordination of all our super seed saving volunteers.
How Does The Seed Library Work?
When members offer really rare seeds, we notice, and we request samples to back up in the Seed Library.
Every year, we check seed catalogues to find out which varieties need to be backed up.
If seeds have low germination, or low quantity, we find volunteer seed growers to save them.
We send seeds to volunteers all across the country, who know how to save top quality seeds.
Our volunteer seed growers multiply the seeds with care, for the benefit of everyone who will grow them in the future.
When we receive seed samples, we test them for germination to make sure they are top quality before putting them in storage.
Thank you to all the members who are growing out rare seeds for the Seed Library. You're saving more than seeds; you're continuing a tradition of cultivating local food, farm communities, Canada's many regional cultures, and the unique flavours of heritage garden varieties.
Check out our Seed Library and learn more about how you can help!
Not yet a member?
An annual membership to Seeds of Diversity gives you access to our seed exchange, seed grow-out programs, and our online news.
We depend on donations to do our work.
Thank you for your support!
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