Saving Seeds
As a result of the events of the past few years, we are in the midst of a gardening renaissance. There are more new gardeners now than at any point since the Victory Gardens of World War II. With the looming possibility of food insecurity, many are looking to not only preserve harvest, but also their seeds.
In a time of so much change, saving seeds also saves the culture associated with those varieties. It is the traditions associated with those seeds that also get saved and shared with future generations. Heirloom seeds wouldn't exist if it wasn't for dedicated gardeners meticulously collecting, saving, and sharing seeds.
One of the most important aspects of saving seeds at this particular time is the economics of it. Every seed collected is a 100% return on the seed that bore the plant. Sometimes just one fruit can create more seeds than you would get in a typical seed pack.
Once you harvest seeds, be sure to store them in a cool, dry place. Storing them in your refrigerator is a great option. The cool temperature slows down their metabolism and keeps them viable longer. We store our seeds at Bob's in a large walk-in cooler.