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Seeds, from the beginning.

© Bob Ewing

We haven't had any rain here on Lake Superior's north shore for at least three weeks. This, along, with hot weather and lightening has, not only increased the need to water, but we are well on the way to a record forest fire season with considerable prime forest being burned. Needless to say, I have been thinking about the importance of water and the damage that a long term absence of water or drought causes. So, in response to those concerns, this week we begin a three part series on the essential elements of creating your own food system.

The lack of water can delay the ability of a plant to develop the seeds that are essential for the next generation of plants to grow. Now, of course, you could just go out and buy new seeds every year but if you are really interested in developing your relationship to the plants you grow and save a few bucks, at the same time, then I suggest that you need to ensure that a percentage of your garden produces seeds. You can control the quality of your plants by saving seeds because you will select the plants which have the characteristics you most seek and save their seeds.

This year I plan to save a few seeds, about 20, from one of my balcony plants, a cherry tomatoe plant. This plant was begun indoors from seed and has been a profilic producer. The fruit is sweet and tasty right from the plant. Tomatoes are an excellent seed to save as they give good food value and can be started early indoors, if you live in a cold climate.

Seed saving is where you can begin to move your table closer to the field and to improve you and your family's food security. If you are a new gardener or haven't been able to save any seeds this year, you will want to think about using heritage seeds. The use of heritage or heirloom seeds has certain advantages, especially when you are seeking self-sufficency.

One of major controversies surrounding the food system today is bioengineering.One concern is that we lose control over the food supply because we can no longer save seeds as they are all protected by copyright and thus the property of the companies that produce them.

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