Post by George's Administrator Hat on Aug 9, 2013 10:07:52 GMT -6
Green Country Seed Savers Network
(Starting from Tahlequah, OK)
(Starting from Tahlequah, OK)
In broad terms, we’d like to establish a network, or community of gardeners in the region, who help one another to find, propagate and distribute useful crops which do well in our climate. As important as the actual seed stocks is the education we hope to provide to help gardeners learn how to reproduce and share these crops. Just a few areas to be learned are: how to produce pure seed, how to process seed for the coming year(s) and how to grow the crops.
The possibilities for seed saving are great. I love the old traditional crops offered by seed savers: beans, tomatoes and squash. But one can learn to reproduce such things as herbs, flowers, root crops such as carrots and beets, Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, chard, sweet potatoes; even Irish potatoes! Currently I'm working on a guide which deals with four food crops which grow as easily as weeds.
I was a member of The Seed Savers Exchange for 25 years. The SSE publishes a book, every winter, with listings of those offering seeds and plant material along with descriptions of what what they are offering. Unfortunately, membership in the SSE is costly. The SSE, also, in my opinion, is not reaching out on a grass roots level as much I would like. I'm thinking we can be less centralized, more relational, more regional and do what we need to do either via Internet or personal meetings. I hope to develop a group which trains, equips and motivates people, on a grass roots level, to both grow more of their own food, and also maintain and share seeds and plant material, so that others can improve their lives as well. If we organize right, I hope eventually to see spin off groups serving other regions and climates.
Green Country, Oklahoma is very unique. Growing things here can be a challenge. Let’s work together and see what we can do to help one another become more resilient, self sufficient and healthy; as we ourselves produce more of what we need.
George McLaughlin Jr.
Tahlequah, OK
