Staying Seedy

For some, it’s stamps, cards, knick-knacks, or memorabilia from their travels, but for me, it’s always seeds. I have been collecting seeds for over twenty years, and my passion for collecting has only increased in that time. I love everything about seeds. I admire the diversity in their shape, size, and color in every rainbow shade. I love how they feel in my hand, from the tiniest microscopic seed to those that will grow a towering tree. I enjoy the beauty of their packaging, whether the packet includes a full-color photo, a black and white sketch, or a handwritten note from the seed saver that gifted me the seeds-these are all intentional and meaningful. I respect the history enveloped within each seed, and I am humbled when imagining the generations of growers lovingly caring for the seeds now in my hand. Finally, and most importantly, I am fascinated with the possibilities within each seed I collect.

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, not only because the spirit of the holidays brings hope, kindness, and family and friends together but also because my mailbox is stuffed with seed catalogs each day. I delight in grabbing a cup of tea and a blanket as I curl up for armchair gardening. I take my time, reading each description, enjoying each photograph, and dogearing pages of those varieties I want to plant. As I stare at each of those beautiful pages, I realize that they offer so much more than exquisite photographs of hundreds of varieties that you can grow. Between these pages, you can also find dreams and possibilities, history and culture. They give us a glimpse into other civilizations when you peruse melons from India, cucumbers from Asia, peppers from the Caribbean, and daisies from Africa. Seeds connect the globe and all of us because they are universal. So much life on this planet relies on seeds for sustenance, shelter, and reproduction. And I can’t think of a more critical collection to keep.

As I flip through the catalog pages, the seeds call to me like sirens of Greek mythology. “Grow me,” “Try me,” “Collect Me,” they all seem to whisper. And more often than not, I comply. Why wouldn’t I want to order a variety of cosmos in pastel tones or a tomato whose multi-colored skin looks like the actual cosmos? There are always new varieties to try alongside tried and true family favorites, and I want to grow them all. I enjoy the process, from the catalog perusal to the ordering to the giddy feeling I have when I see they have arrived in my mailbox. I love planting them, watching them grow, and marveling at their beauty or flavor, or sometimes not, because I don’t always fall in love with the result, and that’s okay too.

When I add to my collection, I can choose to support seed companies that value the seeds and the growers that grow them. From the small farms that have just begun their journey to the larger reputable companies that have supported growers for decades. Companies that know the importance of open-pollinated varieties and who support efforts to preserve our seed history. I commend and admire these companies and organizations work to ensure we have a diverse seed bank to pass on to future generations. I applaud those that bring varieties back from the brink of extinction and share them so that we will never be close to losing them again. And I’m delighted that farmers and home gardeners can participate in a seed’s preservation.

I also respect the pioneers in natural plant breeding who bring us new and improved varieties each year. As a result, further color variations and flavors abound each season, giving growers a seemingly endless list of types to try in their gardens. It is always tempting to put them all in my cart! And all too often, I do.

Yes, it’s true, I have stacks of seeds in my collection, including edibles, ornamentals, and cut flowers-I’ve ordered it all. I always have more seeds than I have room to plant. Perhaps my collection is a bit out of control, but seeds are meant to be shared and saved, and I always have enough to do both. I’m not ashamed to admit that I am a seed stasher. I’m proud of it. I can’t think of a more important item to collect, and I’m honored to be a seed steward. The seeds I have compiled provide sustenance, beauty, joy, habitat, history, culture, and possibilities. Seeds are where life begins, and every flower of tomorrow is in a seed today. Now, that is something worth saving. Happy growing (and seed collecting), flower friends!