Why Save Seeds? Not so long ago, seed saving was part of every
garden. From ancient times until our grandparents' day, favorite
strains of vegetables and flowers were renewed from year to year
and generation to generation, sometimes travelling long
distances with a family to a new homeland. By the 1880s, seed
companies had begun to make hybrid seeds widely and
inexpensively available, and by the early 20th century many
gardeners no longer saved their own seed, relying instead on the
seed companies to provide new and improved varieties each year.
Nearly a century later, it is uncommon to find a gardener who
saves seed. But interest in heirloom gardening and seed saving
is growing! The American Heritage Dictionary defines heirloom as
“a valued possession passed down through successive
generations.” Heirloom gardening is the preservation of old and
valued plant varieties. In recent decades, many varieties of
flowers, fruits and vegetables which had been prized and
maintained for generations have been lost. But a