Have you ever stopped to think about those littles seeds that become the plants you grow and love? A seed is how everything in a garden begins.
This year, the pandemic caused gardeners to buy seeds at a record pace. Because of this, seed companies across the nation and even the world sold out of seeds as gardeners everywhere sought to expand their gardens or start vegetable gardens for the first time.
With more people gardening this year during the quarantine, many seed companies across the United States sold out of seeds.
The origin of seeds and how they were grown can play a big role in how we source and grow our food crops and ornamental plants in the future. Not all seeds are created equal, nor should we be treating them as if they are.
These days, more people than ever are growing their own food. The seeds they choose to purchase and plant can impact a lot more than their own backyard garden.
With new and experienced gardeners everywhere encountering terms on seed packets such as certified organic, conventional, heirloom, open-pollinated, and non-GMO, it’s important to understand what these terms mean and how those seeds will perform in our gardens.
Some of the gardens at Heritage Farms where Seed Savers Exchange seeks to accumulate, preserve and protect our rich, diverse heritage from extinction.
So in this episode, we are going back though the archives to revisit some of our favorite shows about seeds. You’ll see past segments from episode 521 where we feature the Organic Seed Alliance. Their mission is to help farmers better steward their own seeds and farmland to build food diversity while teaching, researching, and advocating to protect our seed supply.
We also revisit episode 117 where we featured The Seed Saver’s Exchange, an organization in Decorah, IA that works directly with home gardeners to preserve both heirloom seeds and the stories that go with them.
There are also segments in this episode featuring High Mowing Organic Seed Co. located in Northern Vermont and Sow True Seed in Ashville, NC; two companies offering organically grown seeds at a time when we need that now more than ever.
So join us as we look back over 10 seasons of our best shows to learn more about the seeds you purchase to grow in your garden.
Links & Resources
Growing a Greener World Episode 117 – Seed Savers Exchange
Growing a Greener World Episode 224 – Saving Heirloom Seed Varieties
Growing a Greener World Episode 402 – Seed Starting 101
Growing a Greener World Episode 521 – The Seed Farmer
Growing a Greener World Newsletter sign-up
joegardenerTV YouTube: How to Save Tomato Seeds
joegardenerTV YouTube: How to Know if Seeds Are Still Good
joegardenerTV YouTube: Seed Germination – Easy Tricks for More Success
The joe gardener Show Podcast Episode 151-Seed Savers Exchange: Behind the Scenes
The Online Gardening Academy and Master Seed Starting Notification Signup
The joe gardener Amazon Storefront
*Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we would get a commission if you purchase. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us. None of the items included in this list have any bearing on any compensation being an influencing factor on their inclusion here. The selection of all items featured in this post and podcast were based solely on merit and in no way influenced by any affiliate or financial incentive, or contractual relationship. At the time of this writing, Joe Lamp’l has professional relationships with the following companies who may have products included in this post and podcast: Rain Bird, Corona Tools, Milorganite, Soil3, Exmark, and Park Seed. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.com and/or advertise on our website. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship.
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
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Books and other product links are affiliate links.
Your “cucumber wall” turned out great! And your cameraman used them well as a backdrop, so I hope he was pleasantly surprised and not as frustrated as he thought he might be when you created it. 🙂
All of your shows and podcasts; ALLLLL the information…it’s just priceless. Thank you so much for making it all available. Your voice is calming yet inspiring; your mannerisms gentle yet strong; you’re smart, clear, conscientious and seem to be a generally kind human. When playing at my house, your shows always make people (who come in) stop in their tracks…then conversation is sparked and we all walk away with information we can use, faith in humanity and hope for the future.
And we’re all smiling carrying our lighter hearts right on out to the gardens:)
Thank you (again)… I wish you and yours peace & blessings – always.