Hudson Valley Seed Library

This past weekend I went to Accord, NY, to the Hudson Valley Seed Library, 

a farm that specializes in growing organic and open-pollinated heirloom seeds 

( http://www.seedlibrary.org/about-us-hvsl/ ) that was started at the site of old 

camp resort in 2004.  This is the time of year when plants are harvested for seed

or have already been harvested.  It was odd, from a gardener's perspective to see

so many of these plants gone to seed! It is always an embarrassment to me to see

lettuce, for example, gone to seed in my garden!  And, of course, I try to pick 

my veggies at the best point for eating, which is usually far earlier than the seed

production stage!

In the photo collage above: red zinnias going to seed, center top (counter clock-

wise): red lettuce seed heads, de-seeded squash in the compost pile, onions drying and

eggplants being allowed to mature to form seeds.

This company also sponsors a yearly contest for artists to design some of their seed

packs: 

This might inspire me to use more open-pollinated plants and save my own seed!

Happy gardening!