Why Are Seedbanks Important?
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So, how do we, the average garden-grower, have access to seeds and plants, that we want to save seed from, and grow again? This is where open-pollinated plants/seeds come into the picture. These are also known as heirlooms. How they get that distinction is to be consistently the same for 50 years. These seeds/plants are passed down through the generations, and are not owned by any company.
Heirlooms are known for their distinct flavors, or characteristics, and that’s usually the best thing about them. The down side is they’re very susceptible to diseases that have evolved with the human tampering of genetics. The hybrids are resistant to many things that will kill an heirloom, yet growing open-pollinated varieties is about the only chance we have of keeping these varieties untampered, or owned.
We can save seeds of non-hybrid varieties of plants, in order to preserve varieties no longer available commercially. In collecting the seeds of the best plants, we’re helping keep open-pollinated varieties available to everyone. That’s where the common person’s seedbanks come into the picture.
The Tennessee Dirtgirl
