The skills of seed saving are vital for small organic food producers and the whole of agriculture. Farmers and gardeners need to be able to produce their seeds as a basic, inalienable way to control their means of production.

Part of the NOFA guides. Includes information on:

• Strengths and limitations of hybrid varieties
• Before you grow the seed (selecting varieties, saving seed and improving crops, intellectual property rights)
• Growing seed (pollination biology, harvesting, cleaning, storage, germination testing)
• Details on individual crops (amaranth, crucifers, beets and chard, lettuce, cucurbits, corn and small grains, nightshades, root veggies)

About The Author

Bryan Connolly farms organically at his small homestead in northeastern Connecticut where he buys and grows seeds from far and wide to satisfy his fascination with plant genetics. When not "swamping the world with with plant propagules," Bryan raises goats, chickens, and turkeys on the farm and assists customers at the Willimantic Food Coop. He has a master's degree in pollination biology from the University of Connecticut and has worked for the University of Mississippi's Medicinal Plant Garden, New England Wild Flower Society, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.