Seed bank

[jansman]

I have spent a week or so in Spain.One of the local fishing guides I worked with last year promised me some of the beans ( broad ) that his family grew and saved for a few generations.This was after a meal with his family which included a dish with these beans in it - it was lovely.

So,I have some to grow and keep in my own garden.I grow from mainly saved seed anyway,as when I find a variety that really does well on my ground I keep it.When you are talking about food security,reliability is key.

It set me thinking.I store my seeds in paper packets,well labelled and in a biscuit tin.It works.However,what if something happened to the building I store that tin in? I have lost those seeds for ever.What if we were in an economic collapse - type of situation?

Some years ago,when I was secretary of our allotment society,I was neighbour to a chap from St.Lucia. He had brought with him in the 70's seeds from home.The only two I remember are the Callaloo ( spelling?) And a chilli.As he said,he could not have possibly got those foodstuffs here,at that time.He always called those plants " my taste of home".He still kept them in the tobacco tin he brought them to Britain in.

So I shall do the same with my favourite saved seeds and keep them in a separate place,probably our hotel go- bag.Mind you,I shall be sure to replace the seed each year,and grow those out.Seeds are not just store and forget.

[jansman]

Just did a search about seed banks in general.The top searches seemed to direct me to sellers of marijuana! However, I found this...

http://thesurvivalmom.com/create-altoid ... ed-vaults/

[featherstick]

You've got to rotate seeds, like anything else. Although I have heard stories of ppl establishing rye crops from a single rye seed, and succesfully growing onions from 10 year old seed stored in a tin in a shed. If you have the time, all you need is one seed to germinate so that you can start building a crop up.

On a side note, the Sowing New Seeds project from Garden Organic has been investigating allotments in the midlands for cultivars of various exotic veg that came over with migrants from Africa, Carribean, Asia etc. They recognised that these growers had been cultivating veg for a while, ending up with varieties very suited to the UK, and they set out to ensure the varieties didn't disappear when the old boys went to the allotment in the sky. Very nice project.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sowing-new-seeds

[Jamesey1981]

Not a great deal of help when it comes to storing your own seeds, but a while ago I visited the millennium seed bank at wakehurst place, was definitely an interesting place to visit, and well worth a look if you're in the area.

http://www.kew.org/science-conservation ... -seed-bank

[Joezef]

Little bit history about Spanish economy


http://www.mundiario.com/articulo/econo ... 50644.html

[jansman]

Joezef you have still not posted an introduction, as I asked.Please do so.

[shocker]

Anyone else interested in growing medicinal herbs ? NOT mind altering ones please, just good old natural remedies, LEGAL ones only people

[jansman]

I have the book 'Grow your own drugs'.Good subject.

Why not start a new thread Shocker?

[TeeDee]

Anyone else interested in growing medicinal herbs ? NOT mind altering ones please, just good old natural remedies, LEGAL ones only people

I think a new thread would be a great idea , also interested in what you would consider planting and why.

[shocker]

OK, willdo