We have been having a cold, wet spring this year in the Pacific Northwest and the temperature and weather feels more like February or March. I have to remind myself that it is the middle of May!
It is time to get the gardens planted and to that purpose, I have been learning how to regenerate old seed.
The seed above belongs to the Orcas Island Seed Bank and I will be putting a link to the website up in a sidebar in addition to the linked name above. Most of the seeds in the seed bank are hard to find varieties that have been proven to grow in this specific island climate. Like all seed, they occasionally need to be renewed by growing them out and saving the new seed that they produce.
I have been learning a very specific process of slowly waking the seeds up by humidifying the seed rather than hydrating. This slow process of adding a few drops of water at a time and allowing the seed's natural repair process to be activated has been very fascinating to me. Not all the seeds make it. Only four out of the five remaining pea seeds in the above photo made it. They are now about four inches tall and growing in a small spot bed in the garden. All the seed will be saved from these four plants if they make it. The seeds will continue to add to the adaption of this particular pea to this area.
This is a very general description of what I am learning to do. I need to study up on the science of what the actual process is and will follow up with a more detailed description for those who are interested.
Like most gardeners, I have a collection of old seed and I have been practicing this technique on seeds that are not so precious as these. So far, I have been able to regenerate most of the seed I have worked with. There are many factors involved in the success or failure including whether the seed was saved or stored properly, the temperature of the regenerating seeds, the amount of moisture being applied, etc.. Add to all of the above a few challenges of being on an off-grid farm.
I will be writing another part to this post as I learn more.
On a more personal note, I am slowly settling into my little cargo trailer. I have been completely re-building the inside. It is always challenging to be living in a construction zone but living in a tiny space adds to the challenge. I will have an update on the Scarlet Raven in the next post.
Yours in Truth and Beauty,
-Renee
