Master Gardener and former Extension Agent Jeff Rieves will continue his series of gardening classes at the Reynolds Homestead on Monday, July 24 with “Save Those Seeds!” from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Continuing Education Center.

“Every plant makes seed of some kind. We use that abundance to create more plants. We can do the same in our own gardens, too,” Rieves said. “We’ll look at plant reproduction, the ways we can use that process, and how to do it.”

Now that summer is here, seeds are coming in. Seed saving is how our current crops came to be, with seeds selected by our ancestors for various traits over generations and traded across regions and continents. This selection lead to a genetic diversity of crops adapted to many growing conditions and climates, and created a large base for our food supply.

Learning to save seeds helps contribute to sustainability and also reinforces our original relationship to the land and our food sources. Trading seeds with local farmers, especially heirloom seeds, helps our local plants adapt to changing climates and ensures a diversity of crops.  According to the Mid-Region Council of Governments, a multi-governmental agency focused on responsible regional planning,

“Seed saving is central to the ideals of sustainability and food security, especially in times of concern about climate change and food safety. Only open pollinated, heirloom seeds (landraces) have the ability to adapt to changing climate conditions in the time frame that they happen. We are likely to see climate changes that manifest as dry spells and drought; late and early frosts; hail storms and floods; insect and other attacks on crops; etc. The variability inherent in landraces will provide the basis for the continued selection of crops that are most able to adapt to these changes.”

Anyone interested in registering for the class can contact the Reynolds Homestead at 276-694-7181. The cost is $10 and is payable at the door the evening of the event.