By Kari Spencer and Belle Starr, Great American Seed Up
The demand for seeds has skyrocketed during the pandemic as home gardening bloomed, resulting in seed shortages.
As more people turned to gardening to grow fresh and nutritious food, seeds became treasured assets.
Seed companies saw a sharp and sudden increase in the demand of seeds, but that demand pushed fulfillment operations past capacity.
Sales then had to be suspended by most suppliers as they strove to catch up. Although seed supply has improved, it will take time before seeds can be as readily available as they were pre-pandemic.
The best way to improve the seed supply is through seed saving. Gardeners must grow the plant from which the seeds are harvested in order to save the seeds. One benefit of seed saving is that you can grow some delicious homegrown food made right in your backyard.
Not only does seed saving assure a secure and regenerative agriculture system, but it can also be a logical and accessible strategy to mitigate climate change. With the current challenges of modern chemical agriculture contributing to global warming, there is no better time to embrace gardening and seed saving. Growing your own food and saving seeds can make a big difference in improving the climate.
The mission of the Great American Seed Up is get seeds into the hands of gardeners, educate the community about home gardening and the importance of seed saving, as well as support the resilience of the gardening community across the country.
At the Great American Seed Up, we offer heirloom seeds whose plants produce seeds that are easily saved. When seeds are grown, saved and replanted, they accrue benefits from climactic adaptation that allow us to select for heartier crops, are more pest-resistant and produce tastier food.
Awareness of the importance of seeds and the need for regional seed saving has never been greater, which is why the Great American Seed Up is pleased to announce its upcoming event Seed Up Saturday on Feb. 26. Sign up for this free online webinar that explores how at-home gardeners can start their seed saving journey and why it is important.
Participants will also have access to buy bulk heirloom seeds with the Seed Up In a Box. The Seed Up In a Box is an easy way for home and community gardeners to purchase heirloom seeds at a significant savings.
These boxes come with bulk seeds and supplies that can be divided up and shared among friends and community gardens. More than 75 types of vegetable, herb, grain, and flower seeds are available to choose from.
Seed Up Saturday is the perfect event for beginner to advanced gardeners, as the most important thing people can do right now is discover where our food comes from and how to grow it. In order for gardeners to grow their food they need their own steady supply of seeds or plants. Plants often produce an abundance of seeds that you can share with your neighbors, friends, or community.
Registration for Seed Up Saturday is open online at www.SeedUpSaturday.com.
Editor’s note: Kari Spencer and Belle Starr are co-founders of the Great American Seed Up, a bulk seed program that provides backyard farmers with the knowledge and seeds to begin their seed saving journey. The Great American Seed Up is presented by The Urban Farm and The Micro Farm Project.
