Got Seeds? Want Seeds?
Locally grown seeds matter
Did you know that seeds acclimate to their region? Over the years, if you keep replanting with the generations of seeds produced in your garden, you will get varietals that have survived our unique growing conditions and create plants more suited to our bioregion.
As this article states: “Local Seed is the Heart of Local Food”
You can also read similar articles here, here, and here .
We here at the BCLFN have been encouraging local seed production and sharing in a number of ways. Plug in and join us! Join our Seedy Team by replying to this email to work on seed security in a community context. Volunteering gives you hands on experience so you can learn how to not only cut down on your gardening costs, but also create a better, healthier, bioregionally adapted food supply for your family.
How to join in the Seedy Fun?
Volunteer: Via the Save Our Seeds Campaign you can help leave seed packets in Tiny Libraries around Butte County. See the ever-expanding map at the bottom of the page here.
We’ve co-sponsored Seed Swaps and are working with the Paradise Community Guilds, and others to put one on Oct. 3 in Paradise…see info below. We hope/anticipate a swap in Chico some time around January-ish so stay tuned.
Learn More: In partnership with Sherri Scott of Harvests and Habitats Nursery, we filmed a workshop last year to help you do just that. It’s quite in depth and informative and will definitely get you on track for saving all sorts of seeds, some of which might require extra love and care, some of which you might not want to save. Watch it for the first time or rewatch it again and again as there is so much there to take in, it’s worth multiple viewings to make sure you get all the info. Thanks, again, to Sherri for sharing all this info.
You can find her and tap her amazing plant knowledge at her nursery. Hours are Thurs 9-6, Friday 9-1, Saturday 9-4 and Sunday 9-3. Habitats and Harvest Nursery is located at 1710 Park Avenue, behind 1078 Gallery. The FB page is here, but don’t believe FB…the nursery is not temporarily closed.
A few more resources to seed your seed saving…
The Seed Savers Exchange has a ton of fun and interesting information to glean answers to many/most of your questions.
In particular and as an example of what they can offer, here’s a fun article on how to store saved seed
Some seed book recommendations via Sherri Scott (please see note at the end of this email about AmazonSmile*)
For beginners:
The Seed Garden- The Art and Pratice of Seed Saving by Jared Zystro
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Susan Ashworth
More advanced Seed Saving: Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardner’s and Farmer’s Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving by Carol Deppe
Upcoming Seed Events
Seed Cleaning Parties This Sunday, Sept. 26
Join us this Sunday at Vecino Victory Garden and Paradise Community Guilds for a Seed Cleaning Party!
Vecino Victory Garden is at 1535 Laburnum in Chico. Party is from 9am to noon.
Paradise Community Guilds is at 5704 Chapel Dr., Paradise and is from 10 to noon.
Bring your seed heads and/or just help us clean what we have but just be sure and join us to transform a sometimes tedious job into fun by doing it in community. It’ll be an informal event in Paradise so just stop on by!
In Chico, we’ll have a few screens, offer up some seedy snacks and read stories about seeds…all the way from kids books to seed catalogues, just like they did for entertainment in the olden days. The seed folks we know that REALLY get into this say that each seed has a story. If you have a book that has interesting info in seeds, be sure to bring it.
If you have larger containers (like a pint or bigger) to save seed in that you want to donate, please bring them along and we will put them to good use. If you want to bring some seed home, please bring smaller containers or we’ll have seed packet envelopes you can use.
Paradise Seed Swap
It’s Seed Swap time on the Ridge! Join the Paradise Community Guilds, Camp Fire Restoration Project, Harvests and Habitats Nursery and us on October 3 at 5704 Chapel Dr. in Paradise from 11am to 3pm. Well have and encourage you to bring seeds, plant starts, cuttings, rootings, bulbs…whatever you have to share with the community! There will be seed ball making for the kids and tons of fun.
Other Events and Such…
-Saturday, Sept. 25- Come on Down to the Nut Festival! It’s from 10 to 4 at Patrick Ranch, 10381 Midway, Chico.
You’ll find food samples, music, an art show and a bunch of community vendors and nonprofits.
We’ll be there so stop on by our booth, say hi and connect so we can get to know you. Don’t forget to ask for some seeds!
– Numerous days and times during the month of September: If you missed it in our last email, Master Gardeners of Butte County has a ton of workshops and events this Fall. Find out about all of them here. You can also find out more on their FB page here.
This and ongoing Saturdays: Nobel Orchards is back at the Chico Certified Farmers Market! Let’s celebrate them as it’s their first time back since November 7 2018 when their farm suffered intense damage and destruction due to the Camp Fire. Find out more in the Certified Farmers Market newsletter and then sign up to get your weekly market updates at the bottom of their homepage here. The Saturday Chico Saturday Farmers Market is from 7:30am to 1pm at the parking lot at 2nd and Wall.
The Sierra Oro Farm Trail runs all through the month of October – From their site: “The new Sierra Oro Farm Trail Farm & Wine Pass, a collaboration between the Sierra Oro Farm Trail and Explore Butte County, opens the doors to amazing Butte County specialty farms and wineries where visitors can stroll through farms, pick fresh apples and pumpkins, sample tasty artisan olive oils, specialty nuts and award-winning wines, all while getting to know the dedicated local farmers and winemakers.” Find out more and get the app here.
The Natural Dyeing workshop was a resounding fun time for all! If you have interest in participating in potential future workshops, please reply to this email and I’ll connect you with Rachel so you can be on her email list.
*Finally…. We have a favor to ask. If you find these emails valuable or simply want to support local food in an easy way and are still buying things from Amazon, will you please add us as your Amazon Smile recipient ? Thanks!
Hope to see you soon!
Pamm Larry and the Team at BCLFN
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