Sovereignty Module: Guard the Seed
Guard the Seed
Complete Seed Saving, Plant Breeding, and Genetic Preservation Guide
Complete Seed Saving, Plant Breeding, and Genetic Preservation Guide
Seeds are the most critical resource for long-term survival. He who controls the seed controls the food supply. This campaign covers saving, storing, and improving seeds for every major food crop.
Chapter 1: Seed Saving Basics
| Concept | Explanation | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Open-pollinated (OP) | Seeds breed true (offspring = parent) | ONLY save seed from OP varieties |
| Hybrid (F1) | Cross of two different parent lines | Do NOT save — offspring are unpredictable |
| Heirloom | OP variety passed down 50+ years | Best for seed saving (proven, stable) |
| Self-pollinating | Plant pollinates itself (no cross-contamination) | Easiest to save (tomato, bean, pea, lettuce) |
| Cross-pollinating | Requires pollen from another plant | Needs isolation distance or hand-pollination |
| Isolation distance | Space between varieties to prevent crossing | Varies by crop (50 feet to 1 mile) |
| Minimum population | Number of plants needed for genetic diversity | 20-50 plants minimum for most crops |
Chapter 2: Crop-Specific Seed Saving
| Crop | Pollination Type | Isolation Distance | Seed Maturity | Extraction Method | Storage Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Self-pollinating | 10-25 feet | Fully ripe fruit | Ferment 3 days, rinse, dry | 4-10 years |
| Bean/pea | Self-pollinating | 10-20 feet | Dry on plant (brown pods) | Shell from dry pods | 3-5 years |
| Lettuce | Self-pollinating | 10-25 feet | Seed heads dry on plant | Shake/strip from stalks | 3-6 years |
| Pepper | Self-pollinating (some cross) | 50-300 feet | Fully ripe (red/orange) | Scrape from inside fruit, dry | 2-5 years |
| Squash/pumpkin | Cross-pollinating (insects) | 1/2-1 mile (or hand-pollinate) | Fully mature fruit (hard rind) | Scoop seeds, wash, dry | 4-6 years |
| Corn | Cross-pollinating (wind) | 1/2-1 mile (or time isolation) | Dry on stalk (dent stage) | Shell from dry cob | 2-5 years |
| Carrot | Cross-pollinating (insects) | 1/2-1 mile | Second year (biennial) — flowers | Harvest dry seed heads | 2-3 years |
| Onion | Cross-pollinating (insects) | 1/2-1 mile | Second year (biennial) — flowers | Harvest dry seed heads | 1-2 years |
| Brassica (cabbage, kale) | Cross-pollinating (insects) | 1/2-1 mile | Second year (biennial) — pods | Dry pods, thresh | 3-5 years |
| Wheat/grain | Self-pollinating (mostly) | 10-50 feet | Dry on stalk (hard kernel) | Thresh and winnow | 2-5 years |
Chapter 3: Seed Processing
| Method | Used For | Process | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry processing | Beans, grains, lettuce, brassicas | Let dry on plant → harvest → thresh → winnow | Simplest method |
| Wet processing (fermentation) | Tomato, cucumber | Scoop seeds + pulp → ferment 2-3 days → rinse → dry | Fermentation removes germination inhibitors |
| Wet processing (wash) | Squash, melon, pepper | Scoop seeds → wash in water → dry on screen | Remove pulp completely |
| Hand cleaning | Small seeds (carrot, onion) | Rub dry seed heads between hands → winnow | Screen/sieve to separate |
Fermentation process (tomato): Squeeze seeds + gel into jar. Add equal volume water. Cover loosely. Let sit 2-3 days at room temperature (bubbles form, white mold on top = normal). Good seeds sink. Pour off mold, pulp, and floating seeds. Rinse good seeds. Dry on plate (not paper towel — sticks).
Chapter 4: Seed Storage
| Factor | Ideal Condition | Why | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture | Below 8% | Prevents mold, premature germination | Dry thoroughly (2+ weeks). Silica gel packets. |
| Temperature | 32-41F (refrigerator) | Slows aging (doubles life per 10F reduction) | Sealed container in fridge or freezer |
| Light | Complete darkness | Light can trigger germination signals | Opaque containers |
| Oxygen | Minimal (sealed) | Prevents oxidation | Sealed jars, vacuum bags, mylar + O2 absorbers |
| Pests | Excluded | Insects eat seeds | Sealed containers. Diatomaceous earth. Freeze 48 hours (kills eggs). |
Storage life rule: "The 100 Rule" — add temperature (F) + relative humidity (%). If total is below 100, seeds store well. Example: 40F + 40% RH = 80 (excellent). 70F + 60% RH = 130 (poor — seeds deteriorate quickly).
Chapter 5: Plant Breeding Basics
| Technique | Purpose | Method | Time to Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass selection | Improve population gradually | Save seed only from best plants each year | 3-5 years (noticeable improvement) |
| Single plant selection | Fix specific traits | Select one superior plant, grow out, select again | 5-7 years (stable line) |
| Cross-pollination (intentional) | Combine traits from two varieties | Hand-pollinate: transfer pollen between varieties | 7-10 years (stabilize new variety) |
| Roguing | Remove undesirable plants | Pull/destroy off-type plants before they pollinate | Every generation |
| Grow-out trials | Test saved seed quality | Plant small sample each year, evaluate | Annual |
Selection criteria: Choose the BEST 10-20% of plants for seed. Select for: vigor, disease resistance, yield, flavor, earliness, uniformity, and adaptation to YOUR specific conditions. Never save seed from weak, diseased, or late plants.
Chapter 6: Seed Vault and Community Seed Bank
| Component | Purpose | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple storage locations | Redundancy (fire, flood, theft) | Minimum 3 locations |
| Variety documentation | Track what you have | Name, source, year saved, notes on performance |
| Regular grow-outs | Verify viability, refresh old seed | Test germination annually. Grow out and re-save every 3-5 years. |
| Sharing network | Genetic diversity, community resilience | Trade with other growers. Different varieties = insurance. |
| Prioritization | Focus on most critical crops first | Calories first (grains, beans), then vegetables, then herbs |
| Backup of backup | Long-term deep storage | Mylar bags + O2 absorbers + freezer = 20-30 year storage |
Reference Card
- Only save seed from open-pollinated (OP) or heirloom varieties. NEVER from hybrids (F1).
- Self-pollinators (tomato, bean, pea, lettuce): easiest. Minimal isolation needed (10-25 feet).
- Cross-pollinators (squash, corn, brassicas): need 1/2 mile isolation or hand-pollination.
- Dry seeds completely (2+ weeks). Store cool, dark, dry, sealed. Fridge or freezer doubles life.
- The 100 Rule: temperature (F) + humidity (%) must be below 100 for good storage.
- Minimum population: save seed from 20-50 plants to maintain genetic diversity.
- Select the best 10-20% for seed. Never save from weak, diseased, or late-maturing plants.
- Tomato fermentation: seeds + pulp + water, 2-3 days. Good seeds sink. Rinse. Dry.
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