permaculture

146 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Creative thinking : How to save and store seed

Method : Group and workgroup brainstorms

Tools : Black/white board or large paper, markers

References : PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries

Objective : Participants understand the reasons, methods, and techniques

for saving seeds

Step 1

Using something like the table below, the facilitator should list the following six stages of

seed saving. The answers listed below are only supplied as guidelines for the facilitator

should the participants need help or prompting for ideas and discussions.

Seed saving stages Why it is needed Methods and techniques

Stage 1: Grow healthy

plants

For our health and the

environment Use organic plants and seeds

Stage 2: Choose the best

seeds To grow the best plants

Choose whole seeds, not

deformed ones

Stage 3: Choose the

ideal time and method for

collecting the seeds from

each plant

To get better seeds

Choose healthy plants that are

ready to harvest and have no

insect damage

Stage 4: Clean the seeds To avoid fungus Soak the seeds for 1 day 1 night and then clean

Stage 5: Dry the seeds To decrease content of water to keep it a long time Cover the seed with cloth and dry in the sun or use seed dryer

Stage 6: Store the seeds To keep the quality and stay longer Keep in a cool, dry place

Table 1. Why use these steps Table 2. Local methods

Step 2

As a group, ask the participants to identify the reasons each of the seed saving stages

are important (table 1).

STAGE 1: Grow healthy plants

• Healthy soil, compost, and mulch are the best way to produce healthy plants.


• For more information, see the PC Book MOD 4 – Healthy Soil.

STAGE 2: Choose the best seeds

Collect seeds from the BEST plants. These plants will:

• Produce healthy and tasty fruit or leaves.


• Be disease free and naturally resistant to pests.


• Be able to withstand extreme conditions – For example the ability to cope with
  very dry or very hot conditions, or still grow well in rocky soil.


• Be slow to go to seed - For green leaf and other similar vegetables (lettuce,
  cabbage, spinach, etc) collect seeds from the plants that are the LAST to
  produce flowers and seeds, NOT the first because the ones that go to seed first
  are weaker and produce less.

EXERCISE

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