Comments on: How to Find Seeds Suitable for Seed Saving http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/ Heirloom gardening and the lives of Pat 'n' Steph Sun, 20 May 2012 13:37:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: How to Plant a Modern Organic Garden | Bifurcated Carrots http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-34174 How to Plant a Modern Organic Garden | Bifurcated Carrots Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:09:10 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-34174 [...] them specifically.  While there’s no reason you can’t grow commercial seeds, be sure to pick some OP/heirloom varieties so you can save seeds as discussed below.  Be sure to check out the Bloggers Seed [...] [...] them specifically.  While there’s no reason you can’t grow commercial seeds, be sure to pick some OP/heirloom varieties so you can save seeds as discussed below.  Be sure to check out the Bloggers Seed [...]

]]> By: Patrick http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-5256 Patrick Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:33:30 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-5256 Hi Laura, Some time today I going to make a follow up comment on your site concerning the Seeds of Italy discussion. Anyone interested can have a look <a href=http://www.masdudiable.com/fluxit/mdd.nsf/dx/Seed-Suppliers.htm?opendocument&comments rel="nofollow">here</a>. As far as buying seed, absolutely, I love seed catalogs as much as the rest of them and I buy at least a few seeds every year. Mostly however, I try to save my own seeds or trade with others when convenient and possible. It's not just the isolation you mention, it's often the space needed to have enough plants to maintain the genepool. Honestly, there are also a few very common plants where it's not worth the trouble. Years ago I was also a member of Kokopelli, and of course Dominique Guillet is famous for his work in the developing world as well as Europe. He's often been the topic of conversation with other seed enthusiasts. I have a copy of his book, and in particular the pictures are excellent. I gave up my membership because it was too much trouble to get French language seed lists, and try to correspond by email when I would send an email in English, the reply would come in French (this was before the days of Google language tools) and it was clear neither of us had any idea what the other was saying. At the time it was also clear they didn't have their act together and they sent me several mislabeled seed samples and a few that didn't germinate at all. It was all just too much trouble, and there were other easier sources of OP seeds. Also, to this day, I continue to get French language spam from them or people related to them, usually of a radical environmental nature. Clicking the link on the bottom of the page for removal from their list doesn't work, and neither has complaining directly to them or their ISP. I'm taking a French class now, so maybe I'll try becoming a member again and use it as an excuse to practice! Hi Laura,

Some time today I going to make a follow up comment on your site concerning the Seeds of Italy discussion. Anyone interested can have a look here.

As far as buying seed, absolutely, I love seed catalogs as much as the rest of them and I buy at least a few seeds every year. Mostly however, I try to save my own seeds or trade with others when convenient and possible. It’s not just the isolation you mention, it’s often the space needed to have enough plants to maintain the genepool. Honestly, there are also a few very common plants where it’s not worth the trouble.

Years ago I was also a member of Kokopelli, and of course Dominique Guillet is famous for his work in the developing world as well as Europe. He’s often been the topic of conversation with other seed enthusiasts. I have a copy of his book, and in particular the pictures are excellent.

I gave up my membership because it was too much trouble to get French language seed lists, and try to correspond by email when I would send an email in English, the reply would come in French (this was before the days of Google language tools) and it was clear neither of us had any idea what the other was saying. At the time it was also clear they didn’t have their act together and they sent me several mislabeled seed samples and a few that didn’t germinate at all. It was all just too much trouble, and there were other easier sources of OP seeds.

Also, to this day, I continue to get French language spam from them or people related to them, usually of a radical environmental nature. Clicking the link on the bottom of the page for removal from their list doesn’t work, and neither has complaining directly to them or their ISP.

I’m taking a French class now, so maybe I’ll try becoming a member again and use it as an excuse to practice!

]]> By: Laura Hudson http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-5230 Laura Hudson Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:53:29 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-5230 Hi Patrick Thanks for the link to this article you posted on my site and your comments re my seed suppliers list and clear labelling for F1's. In the case of Seeds of Italy the seeds come from Italy where almost everyone I meet is a veg gardener and never forgot to save their seeds. So i am not sure your argument re Must be stated as policy applies across the board. In France we have a specialist heirloom seed organisation called Association Kokopelli www.organicseedsonline.com for uk branch (site in English) which collects protects and distributes heirloom seed and publishes a superb manual. Great site by the way Patrick - thanks for putting it up. P.S In defence of buying some seeds each year and a word of caution. I would find it difficult to provide adequate spacing or barrier protection against natural cross pollination for all the veg I grow each year. So i save particular varieties when grown in isolation from other varieties they could cross with to ensure saving a true seed. Hi Patrick
Thanks for the link to this article you posted on my site and your comments re my seed suppliers list and clear labelling for F1′s.
In the case of Seeds of Italy the seeds come from Italy where almost everyone I meet is a veg gardener and never forgot to save their seeds. So i am not sure your argument re Must be stated as policy applies across the board.
In France we have a specialist heirloom seed organisation called Association Kokopelli http://www.organicseedsonline.com for uk branch (site in English) which collects protects and distributes heirloom seed and publishes a superb manual.
Great site by the way Patrick – thanks for putting it up.
P.S In defence of buying some seeds each year and a word of caution. I would find it difficult to provide adequate spacing or barrier protection against natural cross pollination for all the veg I grow each year. So i save particular varieties when grown in isolation from other varieties they could cross with to ensure saving a true seed.

]]> By: Patrick http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-3112 Patrick Sun, 04 Nov 2007 09:51:14 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-3112 The Lost Seed looks like a good place to get seeds from too. The Lost Seed looks like a good place to get seeds from too.

]]> By: blueblue http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-3106 blueblue Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:04:09 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-3106 Adding http://www.thelostseed.com.au/index.htm As a source of seeds. Adding
http://www.thelostseed.com.au/index.htm

As a source of seeds.

]]> By: Ottawa Gardnener http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-3041 Ottawa Gardnener Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:53:33 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-3041 I did not know that they were actively discouraged from listing a seed as OP. Very interesting article as always. There is also a Canadian Seed Saver Exchange: Seeds of diversity: http://www.seeds.ca/en.php I did not know that they were actively discouraged from listing a seed as OP. Very interesting article as always. There is also a Canadian Seed Saver Exchange:

Seeds of diversity: http://www.seeds.ca/en.php

]]> By: Chefs support organic food | Organic Guide http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2994 Chefs support organic food | Organic Guide Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:02:48 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2994 [...] solutions can be hastily ridiculed or dismissed out of hand. It wasn’t long ago that raising heritage vegetable varieties without chemical sprays or fertiliser was considered to be the marginalised province of cranks and [...] [...] solutions can be hastily ridiculed or dismissed out of hand. It wasn’t long ago that raising heritage vegetable varieties without chemical sprays or fertiliser was considered to be the marginalised province of cranks and [...]

]]> By: Christa http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2969 Christa Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:13:55 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2969 Great post. Very helpful! Thank you! Great post. Very helpful! Thank you!

]]> By: Patrick http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2955 Patrick Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:27:57 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2955 Wow, seedsavers.net looks like a great organization. It looks like you can't buy seeds from them, only get them for free. That's the true spirit of seed saving. Maybe I was a little harsh concerning Diggers in my last comment, but I still stand by what I said. We have a very popular local seed company here, and I know the owner a little bit. He makes a point of trying to get to know all the seed savers in the country. He's a great guy and believes in all the right things. He sells mostly OP stuff, and really a lot of people buy stuff from him because he has a great reputation and people really like him. At the same time, he buys some hybrid seeds from commercial suppliers and the contracts he has with them forbid him from publicly identifying his OP stuff. For this reason, I would never buy any seeds from him unless the two of us were sitting down in a room and discussing things from one seed saver to another. I think all over the world there are great small seed companies in this same situation, and these are simply not the best places to get seeds from that you intend to save. Wow, seedsavers.net looks like a great organization. It looks like you can’t buy seeds from them, only get them for free. That’s the true spirit of seed saving.

Maybe I was a little harsh concerning Diggers in my last comment, but I still stand by what I said.

We have a very popular local seed company here, and I know the owner a little bit. He makes a point of trying to get to know all the seed savers in the country. He’s a great guy and believes in all the right things. He sells mostly OP stuff, and really a lot of people buy stuff from him because he has a great reputation and people really like him.

At the same time, he buys some hybrid seeds from commercial suppliers and the contracts he has with them forbid him from publicly identifying his OP stuff. For this reason, I would never buy any seeds from him unless the two of us were sitting down in a room and discussing things from one seed saver to another.

I think all over the world there are great small seed companies in this same situation, and these are simply not the best places to get seeds from that you intend to save.

]]> By: blueblue http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2954 blueblue Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:55:00 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2954 I bought some seeds from Eden. A lot of people I know are members of Diggers and buy their seeds from there. The Seedsavers Handbook has been recommended to me as a good guide. I picked up a bit of a basic guide from the Home Grown blog: http://www.seedsavers.net/publications/1187091548_6844.jsp a link to a free download called Seed to Seed: Food Gardens In Schools from the Seedsavers Network. It's a starting place : ) I bought some seeds from Eden. A lot of people I know are members of Diggers and buy their seeds from there.

The Seedsavers Handbook has been recommended to me as a good guide.

I picked up a bit of a basic guide from the Home Grown blog: http://www.seedsavers.net/publications/1187091548_6844.jsp
a link to a free download called Seed to Seed: Food Gardens In Schools from the Seedsavers Network. It’s a starting place : )

]]> By: Patrick http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2952 Patrick Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:48:07 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2952 Hi BBG, Thanks for the info. From what I can see on their web site, Digger's Club is an example of a traditional seed company that has the usual aggressive marketing, and just happens to sell several heirloom varieties too. They don't state anywhere clearly that they don't sell hybrid varieties, and I see several indications of commercial varieties in their pictures of potatoes and strawberries. I think you would be taking a chance buying seeds from them and expecting them to be OP. I think this is a good example of a seed company to watch out for and avoid when seed saving! SGA is also not very clear as to their position with hybrid/OP, and I would not necessarily trust the suppliers they mention. The other two are clear. Eden and Permaculture Nursery both sell exclusively OP seeds. Since I don't have any personal experience with them, I'm not going to link to them or recommend them to others, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them if I wanted to try some of their seeds. Hi BBG,

Thanks for the info.

From what I can see on their web site, Digger’s Club is an example of a traditional seed company that has the usual aggressive marketing, and just happens to sell several heirloom varieties too. They don’t state anywhere clearly that they don’t sell hybrid varieties, and I see several indications of commercial varieties in their pictures of potatoes and strawberries. I think you would be taking a chance buying seeds from them and expecting them to be OP. I think this is a good example of a seed company to watch out for and avoid when seed saving!

SGA is also not very clear as to their position with hybrid/OP, and I would not necessarily trust the suppliers they mention.

The other two are clear. Eden and Permaculture Nursery both sell exclusively OP seeds. Since I don’t have any personal experience with them, I’m not going to link to them or recommend them to others, but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy from them if I wanted to try some of their seeds.

]]> By: Bare Bones Gardener http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2951 Bare Bones Gardener Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:51:20 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2951 Hey Pat, Good info mate. Here's a few OP Sources in Aus. for your list. http://www.diggers.com.au/ http://www.permaculturenursery.com.au/seeds/seeds.html http://www.sgaonline.org.au/info_heirloom_varieties.html http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/default.asp Hey Pat, Good info mate.

Here’s a few OP Sources in Aus. for your list.

http://www.diggers.com.au/

http://www.permaculturenursery.com.au/seeds/seeds.html

http://www.sgaonline.org.au/info_heirloom_varieties.html

http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/default.asp

]]> By: Andrea http://bifurcatedcarrots.eu/2007/10/how-to-find-seeds-suitable-for-seed-saving/comment-page-1/#comment-2931 Andrea Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:14:24 +0000 http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=234#comment-2931 Great article! Thanks for explaining that so clearly. Great article! Thanks for explaining that so clearly.

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