Seed Saving and Permaculture

The catalog is on the way! After it's out I'm getting ready to teach a Seed Saving Workshop as part of the Permaculture In Action course series at SUNY Ulster. Seed saving and permaculture go hand in hand. The way I see it, the most sustainable annual vegetable garden is one where seed saving is planned into the design. On Friday night I will be covering the history of seed saving from the dawn of agriculture to the present. Saturday will be more hands on over at Epworth. We will learn how to plan for saving seeds, seed saving techniques for many vegetables, storage requirements, and start some seeds in soil blocks to take home. Here is the complete list of courses for the series. Hope to see you there.

Fri & Sat, Feb 1-2 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm PERMACULTURE: GLOBAL CHALLENGES, PERSONAL SOLUTIONS. Andrew Jones and Ethan Roland will focus on personal solutions of human health, organic & raw nutrition, and fermented foods. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Fri & Sat, Feb 29 – Mar 1 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm SEED SAVING: RECLAIMING BIODIVERSITY
Learn the history, how-to, and why of saving seeds with Ken Greene of the Hudson Valley Seed Library. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Fri & Sat, Apr 4 -5 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm LIVING SOIL & NO-TILL GARDINEING Sarah Williford and Kevin Svorak of Regeneration CSA, soil microbiologist David Travis share the soil foodweb and home and market scale gardening techniques. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Fri & Sat, May 9-10 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm FOREST GARDENING & AGROFORESTRY Learn how-to design, establish, and maintain productive forest gardens. Course presented by Ethan Roland and Steve Gabriel. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Fri & Sat, May 30 - 31 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm NATURAL BUILDING & HOME DESIGN. Kay Cafasso will survey natural building styles appropriate to the Hudson Valley, and practice easy-to-learn earthbuilding techniques. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Fri & Sat, Jun 27-28 • Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 9 am - 4 pm LIBERATION ECOLOGY: SOCIAL & ECOLOGICAL HEALTH. Learn how to work towards ecological and social health at the same time to help create sustainable, whole-system health. Presented by Rafter Sass. SUNY Ulster/ Camp Epworth. Register through SUNY Ulster Continuing Ed www.sunyulster.edu. 2 Sessions $129.

Seeds for Sale

Are you drooling over those full-color glossy seed catalogs from across the country? Can you almost taste the fresh ripe tomatoes as you get ready to place your order? My hope for 2008 is that people’s new-found passion for eating locally grown produce will expand into their own gardens. Growing vegetables and flowers with local seed helps preserve valuable plant diversity as well as the fascinating stories that come with these seeds. I’m excited to be working with local artists who are designing the first original Seed Library seed packs. We are creating beautiful seed packages that reflect the uniqueness and diversity of our seeds.

Seeds and Seed Library memberships are available at the Gardiner Library starting February 4^th. Seed can also be purchased at the February and March Winter Sun Farm Markets at Deyo Hall in New Paltz. There is currently no printed catalog, but a list of varieties available for 2008 can be received by emailing Hudson Valley Seed Library at info@seedlibrary.org.

Upcoming seed saving events include a two-day seed saving workshop as part of the Permaculture in Action series at SUNY Ulster in February. Seed Saving and Permaculture go hand in hand- this workshop wil show why and how to integrate seed saving into permaculture landscapes. In May, I’ll be giving a talk called The Full Circle Garden: Seed Saving for Backyard Gardeners, at the Catskill Native Nursery’s Wildflower Festival. The talk will cover easy planning for seed saving, best heirloom plant choices for beginners, seed saving tips, and simple seed storage ideas. The Seed Library will also have a table at the festival with seeds, membership information, and books and vintage seed ephemera to browse and buy.

Check back to the blog to keep up to date with Seed Library events.