save your own seed

I can get really stirred up about seed saving. There are many grass roots organisations who are campaigning against how something so utterly fundamental to life for every single one of us can be owned. And not just owned, but commercially controlled, ruthlessly and cynically monopolised, and carefully restricted for profit and gain.

But this is Gather, and so we will not dwell on the nefarious activities of others. (However, if you would like to read more on this, I highly recommend the Seed Sovereignty website from the Gaia Foundation.) We will simply engage in daily acts of rebellion and revolution. And today, that means saving seed.

Sitting in my little seed-saving studio, the seed fridge is slowly filling up with the 2022 harvest. Above my head, the Sheila maid is filling with dried flowers. The roof is low and it is not unusual for me to get ammi or sangiusorba tangled in my hair. However, each time I look up at the swags of honesty, I think about the generosity of plants.

Each honesty seed that I sowed a year ago grew on to make a plant that flowered and branched. Each plant that I cut down, turned upside down, and tied to a drying rack holds its seed pods proudly and, as the light streams through, I can see six new seeds in each pod. Each plant gave me a lot of pods, too many to count. One plant. More seed than I will ever need. Maybe even enough for all of you as well. Isn’t that wonderful?

Of course, whilst magical, there is a slightly grim reason for this. In the same way as humans have had more children than they require for much of our history, reproduction plays the numbers game. My honesty plant had no way of knowing that each one of its seeds would be carefully and lovingly nurtured and protected, stored in paper bags in a temperature-controlled fridge, and then posted to people who will truly care about their growth and survival. It just knew it needed to produce a lot of seeds.

And as you look around your garden or at your pots, this abundance is a theme. Even a small number of plants will produce an unfeasible abundance of seed. Touch a foxglove and tiny seeds scatter. Turn one single poppy seed head upside down and the round black seed absolutely pours out. I started collecting the weld seed yesterday and just two plants gave me enough for all my own dyeing next season and the Gather shop for a whole year.

This heat does mean that seed is ripening fast but because the plants are drying and crisping up around them, they are also being scattered and released at a startling rate. Although this makes for more urgency than I am usually comfortable with in my gardening, I am also keeping an eye on the forecast. Storms and wet weather are due to come in from the South West this weekend and collecting seed in the damp is a thankless task and a recipe for mouldy seed.

Today is the day. Boycott Amazon. Write to your MP. Go and collect some seed.

Before you go, some tips.

Knowing when they are ready: touch, sight & sound

Too early and the seed won’t be ripe. Too late and your precious seeds will be scattered to the four winds. Collect seed when it comes loose with a light touch, when they rattle, or when there is a change in colour.

Ripe seed will fall into your hand willingly

The change in colour is almost always from lush green to a deep, autumnal brown. Check daily when you think they are close, just touching or tapping, or unpeel one to see the progress of the seed. Some seed will dry and ripen even after the flower has been cut (digitalis always surprises me like that) but if you possibly can, let it ripen on the plant.

Handle with care

Seed wants to be dispersed so it can be quite tricky to catch. Use a paper bag and a lot of care to maximise your harvest. Putting the bag over the seed head before cutting the stem will help for poppies. Label immediately. You won’t remember even if you cannot believe you will ever forget. I have a bowl on my windowsill that is either red cabbage or agrostemma.

Be mindful of moisture

Harvest on a dry day, and make sure the seed is free of insects and completely dry before storing. Keep in paper bags or envelopes in a cool, dry, frost free place. If you lucky enough to be at the jam jar scale, then a sachet of silica will be useful. You are aiming for cool and dry conditions if you want to store. Never collect into plastic.

Abundance

Plants are generous and you will quickly accumulate more seeds than you need. Share them freely.