How to Start a Community Seed Bank

Community seed banks preserve seeds for future use to ensure that we don't lose species of flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also help restore crops after a severe drought, disease or insect infestation. Both farmers in undeveloped countries and home gardeners can benefit greatly from a good seed bank. It saves them from having to repurchase seed at a high cost when a crop fails.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk to gardeners, farmers and people that can help you collect and organize seeds for your bank. The experienced farmer and gardener can tell you that this is a year-round job. Preserving seeds for future use takes a lot of work.

2. Collect seeds, including tubers and cuttings. Local growers can advise you on the best time to collect and they can tell you what you need from which plants.

3. Clean and dry the seeds. In a warm dry climate, you can do this by spreading the seeds in the sun. In hot humid climates, you should find an alternative way to slowly dry the seeds. If you dry the seeds too quickly, you can damage them.

4. Label and store the seeds. You should keep them in moisture-proof containers with some silica in a cloth bag inside the container. The silica helps absorb any moisture that gets into the container. Store the seeds in a cool, dark space like a cellar. Prime storage temperature should be slightly warmer than that of a refrigerator.

5. Check your seeds often. You may need to replace the silica in the containers and possibly even re-dry them. What you need to do depends on the kind of seed and the climate. Talk to experienced growers to get some good insight.

6. Plant your seeds and use them to restock your seed bank. Plant them carefully, not too close to another variety of the same plant. You don't want to cross pollinate or mix two kinds of the same plant.