SEED SAVING an illustrated guide Rights reserved: The authors allow the reproduction, as long as the integrity of this work is respected, including the authors’ information; and it is distributed for free. ConteNTS : What is a seed? 6 Vegetative reproduction 23 Species and varieties 7 Harvesting 24 Where to get them 8 Cleaning and drying 26 Germination 10 Cleaning fruit seeds 27 Cultivation 12 Drying 28 Selection 13 Isolation 29 Sexual selection 15 Storage 30 Pollination and crossbreeding 16 Seed passport 31 Population 18 Seed quality 32 Protection 19 Participatory Guarantee System 34 Manual pollination 20 Seeds and rights 36 Mass selection 22 CREDITS 37 3 WELCOME If you are looking for basic information to produce your own seeds in an ecological manner, WWW.REDSEMILLAS.ORG this handbook is for you. www.swissaid.org.ec WWW.ALLPA.ORG It was put together by the Seed Guardians Network, an Ecuadorian social platform formed by families that create their own regenerative lifestyles. Following demand by biodiversity?friendly agriculture movements across regions, we have now decided to translate our guide. Translating and sharing this local knowledge with a global community has been made possible through Farming Rare.org www.ifoam.bio for Biodiversity, a project supported by the International Climate Initiative of the German Ministry for Environment, Supported by: Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU ICI). Farming for Biodiversity is implemented by Rare and IFOAM ~ Organics International, in cooperation with the Convention on based on a decision of the German Bundestag Biological DiversitY (CBD)?. Swissaid Ecuador financed the initial material. www.cbd.int www.international~climate~initiative.com This guide will help you understand the essential aspects of working with seeds. You can look for more specific We hope this guide will help you cultivate your own information on the Internet. Our web page and our magazine autonomy. Seeds are the foundation for food sovereignty ALLPA are very useful sources for Spanish speakers. and taking care of them is a wonderful journey. What is a seed Species and varieties For the ancestral peoples of Ecuador, POTATO a seed is that which reproduces life. Goldenberry Black lionesse This includes botanical seeds such as corn, and vegetative material such as cassava ONION cuttings. RED ONION Scallions chives The seeds we use today were created WHITE ONION by indigenous peoples through a process BEANS called ?domestication?: the patient BLACK selection, year after year, of plants that Red/Kidney PINTO PURPLE WHITE have interesting characteristics, to carry on reproduction with them. VARIETIES Millions of seed guardians have worked for more than 10.000 A specieS is defined by the capacity of individuals to years to create the breed and produce fertile offspring. agro?biodiversity we have inherited. Sometimes the shapes cause confusion: They seem very different but they belong to the same species, and can Brussels cross with each other. Cabbage Broccoli sprouts It is essential to know which plants belong to the same species, in order to preserve a variety or to Artículo: la vida nace en create new varieties. 6 la semilla 7 Where to get them ? In most countries today, there are independent networks that sell and exchange seeds. They usually In state~managed Seed Banks, have interesting varieties. They are Generally, these vast collections oriented towards organic farming and are not open to the public, but the quality of their seeds is sustained we must advocate for the right by the passion of their producers. to access and help them preserve their collections via on~field reproduction. Small seed farmS and family or community enterprises, It is fundamental to support their work. Try to create On the roadsides, Walking on the personal relationships with them. fields. Asking your neighbors. The world is full of treasures? , FarmeR s markets, Even if seeds are not for sale at the moment, you may ask the farmers to help you get them. 8 9 GERMINATION Other plants, including root crops and grains, are better off planted Some seeds will do better if you plant them in a seedbed.EXAMPLES INCLUDE: CORN SUNFLOWER CARROTS BEETS CHARD WHEAT LETTUCE TOMATO ONION Cabbage PUMPKIN The seedbed may be dug in the ground, or you can use Plant the seed near the surface, slightly covered any container that is at least 5 cm (2 inches) deep, by soil. with small holes to let out excess water. There are also professional seed starter trays you can buy. Always keep the area moist. In many cases, soaking the seed in water overnight accelerates germination. When the plant has three or more leaves, it can Seed starter tray Cut plastic bottles be transplanted. Do it with care, trying not to break the roots. You should prepare a special mixture that includes: 50% or more 10% AERATION TRUE COMPOST MATERIAL: fine LEAVES (small chunks) gravel, sand, rice husks or similar PRIMARY 40% LOOSE LEAVES GARDEN SOIL Holes in the recipient to 10 evacuate the water 11 CULTIVATION SELECTION Plants selected for seeds should not receive any special treatment. The same care should This is the most important aspect of seed be taken as in standard cultivation: good soil, production. Each individual has a series of compost, enough irrigation, weeding when necessary, particular characteristics: protection from predators. ? ~ size ~ shape ~ nutritional quality In other words, you should select plants that ~ fruit color ?~ resistance to pests and diseases grow well in normal conditions, with no need for special treatment. These characteristics are inherited through its genes. We recommend to use exclusively organic farming methods: We want to select plants that can defend , themselves and reach good production levels in Seed savers pay attention to the plant s local climates, under natural conditions. characteristics in each generation, looking for interesting features to promote, or deficiencies to If we spray against pests, all the plants may remove. survive and it will be difficult to select those that are truly resistant. 12 13 For plants that reproduce sexually, it is necessary to select their progenitors. THE AVERAGE RULE The key moment is before flowering. It is through the flowers that the plants crossbreed, and once they have To maintain the done it, we cannot carry out selection. characteristics of a crop, you should always look for the plants that best represent the average. Plants that are too weak ~those that Neither the slowest, nor the fastest; are often attacked by pests, those that neither the largest, nor the smallest? grow too fast or too slow, those that have a defective shape or bad fruit ~ should be removed before they open If you find something special, for example a very their flowers. large product, plant these seeds in a separate place and be vigilant while they grow. It could be In this way, they will not pass something interesting? their genes to the following ...maybe the beginning of a new variety! ...or it could generation. be a hybrid that will put out defective seeds. Plants that seem healthy and that comply with the desired characteristics should be marked as reproducers and allowed to flower. It is from those plants that you will get your seeds. 14 15 POLLINATION AND CROSSBREEDING Strawberry flowers Example: Beans Plants sexually reproduce through Some plants pollinate pollination, when the fertile pollen themselves. They have very reaches a flower that is ready to low percentages of cross breed. breeding. pollination In garden vegetables, pollination = Inbreeders ? is done mainly by insects who visit they are easier to reproduce the flowers in search of nectar and carry the pollen in their bodies. For example: Bees fly Other plants need to be crossbred. up to ? km around = Outbreeding plants their hive. They can crossbreed all the pollen They must be protected, and you compatible crops within must make sure that they do not this area. crossbreed with other compatible One strand, varieties. one grain! Some vegetables and grains are Ex. Cabbage, corn pollinated by wind, for example corn. MALE Their light pollen may travel FLOWER around ten kilometers on a windy day. Female flower 16 17 ISOLATION POPULATION When you want to prevent different varieties from crossbreeding, there are several effective ways to isolate them. For each species, there is a minimum population necessary to keep the genetic vigor and produce Isolation in time seeds of good quality. Plant different varieties at different times, so they don?t flower at the This population is defined by the number of plants same time. that cross pollinate. MONTH MONTHS This is not effective in small properties where cross pollination may come from neighbors. Isolation in space CORN ?Place each crop sufficiently apart to impede cross pollination. BEANS Parsley TOMATO This also is not effective in small properties. LETTUCE Radish Isolation with excluding devices Use excluding material in order to prevent cross For species that do For species that are very likely not cross pollinate to crossbreed, you can use a fine much, a tall barrier mesh or cloth that completely may be enough: prevents insects from entering. 2 meters high LETTUCE LETTUCE TYPE TYPE LETTUCE LETTUCE In this case, it may be necessary 18 TYPE TYPE to do pollination by hanD... 19 HAND POLLINATION EXAMPLE: PUMPKIN Quickly open the receiving flower and spread the Pollination by hand gives you pollen in the ovaries total control of pollination, with the brush. If helping to ensure quality and necessary, take away the Allowing you to experiment. petals until the ovaries The flowers must be are revealed. closed before they open, OVARIES WATCH OUT THAT INSECTS using fine meshes or DO NOT INTERFERE WITH paper bags, or adhesive FEMALE FLOWER YOUR WORK tape in the case of BAG large flowers.