Colorado State University hosts Seed Saving Workshop

Join us on April 14 at the Burlington Library on 321 14th Street in Burlington, Colorado, starting at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. for a grand opening of Burlington’s Seed Lending Library and attend a Seed Saving Workshop on seed saving techniques and how to be a good seed saving steward.

Did you know we have a vanishing vegetable heritage? According to Suzanne Ashworth, who wrote Seed to Seed, from 1984 to 1987, 54 of the 230 mail-order seed companies in the United States and Canada went out of business. With that unfortunately, many seed collections were dropped. To be exact, 943 non-hybrid varieties were lost. Organizations such as Seed Savers Exchange put together a catalog titled, Garden Seed Inventory of non-hybrid vegetable varieties. Some of the other organizations dedicated to seed saving are Heritage Farm and The Flower and Herb Exchange.

In Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance started in 2014 by three avid seed collectors. Their mission was to connect communities with the seeds that sustain them. Their goal is building a network of seed stewards, distributors, educators and seed storage facilities throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Libraries in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Colorado and other western states have joined in the network. Burlington Library is looking to do the same. Keep the old varieties alive. Keep our genetic heritage alive.

The workshop will introduce participants to pollination and flower structure. Delve into maintaining varietal purity and being good seed stewards as vegetable gardeners. We will also cover Burlington Library’s goals as a seed lending library and as a patron how you can participate.