Saving Seeds From Your Garden
If you’re growing any open-pollinated plants, consider saving the seeds from your plants this season. You’ll be amazed at how many seeds come from just a few veggies: most likely enough for next year’s garden plus plenty more to share and swap. And don’t forget the Heirloom Seed Library at Midtown-Carnegie and Library Station branches--they’ll take your surplus heirloom seeds and share them with the community next season.
The Library has many resources to help you learn techniques for seed saving. We partner with the MU Extension Office to bring you free Super Easy Seed Saving Classes taught by Patrick Byers, their Horticulture Specialist. Catch the last class of the season on Saturday, August 13th at the Midtown-Carnegie Branch. Mr. Byers is an amazing gardening teacher, and can answer any seed-saving questions you might have.
If you can’t make it to the Super Easy Seed Saving Class, check out the Heirloom Seed Library's website. There you’ll find a list of some great local resources, trusted websites, and library books that can teach you how to save seeds from your plants.
Here are more seed-saving books the Library offers. Check them out!
The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds: 322 Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, Fruits, Trees, and Shrubs
Seedswap: The Gardener's Guide to Saving and Swapping Seeds
The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Seed Saving
Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of the People
Seed Sowing and Saving: Step-by-step Techniques
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Seed Saving & Starting
Homesteading Handbook Vol. 3: The Heirloom Seed Saving Guide
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners
Saving Vegetable Seeds: Harvest, Clean, Store, and Plant Seeds from your Garden
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