Living a life that is more self-reliant is all about the little things. Learning new skills constantly that afford you to be less reliant on the outside world. We recently learned the art of saving seeds. I know a pack of seeds is not that much money, around $3.00 for organic heirloom, but freedom to be able to plant your garden each season from your own stash of seeds is priceless! Imagine the savings on groceries if you yield just 70% of your produce from saved seeds. Eventually you're looking at just labor or your quiet time, however you view gardening.
So, the type of seeds we are going to look at are the ones enclosed in a gel like tomatoes, cucumber, cantaloupe are all saved the following way:
Step 1: Remove seeds from your produce and place in a bowl, at least 5 inches deep. Cover with water about an inch and a half over the seeds.
Step 2: Let the seeds ferment or grow mold on top of water. This step is usually 2 to 5 days.
Step 3: Break up the mold with the end of a fork. This takes protective coating off & allows it to be able to germinate.
Step 4: Run extra water into bowl then strain using wire mesh strainer. While rinsing push seeds around in strainer with your finger making sure all the seeds are clean.
Step 5: Write name of seed on a paper towel. Scatter seeds onto towel to dry. Drying takes approximately one and a half weeks.
Step 6: Write name of seed on sealable plastic bag and transfer seeds to bag. These seeds will keep 3 years. May last longer but I would not risk the labor past 3 years.
Seeds from one cantaloupe! I have two of these napkins full of seeds!
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Blessings to you,
alisha
