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Seed Vaults Preserve Our Ecosystem

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By: Charlene Rennick

Seed vaults protect ecosystems by preserving stored species of seeds.  An ecosystem consists of a combination of interactions between all beings, living and nonliving, in a given physical environment.  Each organism has a role to play; it has both an effect on the other life forms and is acted upon by the other organisms in its environment.  The ecosystem works because each individual organism is inter-dependent upon the others for its survival.  Removing one life form from the order disorganizes and compromises the entire system’s continued existence.

Insects Cultivate Plants

Insects are vital to an ecosystem. Certain insects are attracted to particular plants which become pollinated as the bug moves from plant to plant.  Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed plants.  If people spray or remove milkweed, it restricts the opportunities that Monarchs have to ensure the survival of their species. Open pollination gives propagation advantages to species of plants as the environment changes because the insects that pollinate them have adapted to the altered conditions.  Spraying to eradicate one type of insect or plant not only endangers the species, but it decreases the opportunity for the survival of the next organism along the food chain.

Seed Vaults

Spitsbergen, Norway is home to one of the most sophisticated seed vaults in the world.  Seed vaults have been built to preserve the Earth’s vegetation as a complete system in case of a severe, world-wide natural disaster or nuclear war.  At Spitsbergen, the permafrost on the outside of the building maintains the vault far below the freezing point of water.  The seeds inside the vault are sealed within steel-reinforced, concrete walls one meter thick.  Two airlocked vestibules double the protection against outside air infiltrating the vault upon human entry.  In February 2008, the Spitsbergen vault began accepting seeds. (Wikipedia)  Other seed vaults include the Millennium Seed Bank project, located in West Sussex and the  Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, situated in St. Petersburg (formerly known as Leningrad), which survived a siege during World War II.

The Oldest Seed

Seed vaults also protect species from becoming endangered due to over-spraying and other types of interference with bird, insect and animal populations. The hybridization of plants encourages neglect of some species of plants due to their lack of commercial appeal.  Some heirloom seeds are believed to have been passed down through generations of first nation people since the Pre-Columbian area.  Ancestral nations in Europe, Africa and Asia also have seeds which are believed to have been species collected for thousands of years. The oldest known heirloom seed was discovered during the 1970s at Herod’s Palace in Israel.  A Judean date palm seed was unearthed during excavation.  It was found inside an ancient jar which had been preserved for 2000 years in very dry underground conditions.

Heirloom Seeds: Defining Authentic

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By: Charlene Rennick

The debate continues for dedicated heirloom seed saving hobbyists and serious collectors with private or public seed vaults: is there a definitive point in time at which a seed can be identified as an heirloom?

Standardizing the Definition of Heirloom

An interesting point of reference for dedicated heirloom seed seekers is the origin of the seed.  The convoluted history of the seed and integrated diversity from which it originated leads to a corresponding difficulty identifying and standardizing a definition of said seeds.

Heirloom seed enthusiasts appreciate the seed for its natural evolution, open-pollination genesis and manufacture-free authenticity, yet it is this very attribute that makes it elusive to verification and control by heirloom seed seekers.

The quandary is that heirloom, by definition, means it is a result of open pollination.  There is no hybridizing, controlled environment or selective reproduction.  If an heirloom seed produces a plant that has desirable characteristics over and above any other variety, preserving it in any way or restricting the pollination variables, will condemn it as a hybrid.  Sowing the seed and letting nature take its course is part of the uniqueness of the heirloom varieties.  Contaminating the pollen, even through open pollination with the pollen of a hybrid, exposes the seed to censure.

Hybrids Infiltrate the Market in the 1950s

The age of seeds is among the topics of controversy. Some contend that any seed originating after 1950 is not an heirloom variety.  Denouncing any seed developed after the introduction of hybrids in the 1950s, solves the problem for some.   Others argue that seeds which pre-date World War II are the only genuine recipients of heirloom status.

While the debate over lineage will continue, there is some substance to the dispute that excluding seeds from Heirloom status simply because they were packaged by a commercial seed company, is taking the definition a bit too literally. Does it need to be rare to be an heirloom?  Is it possible to accept that a good quality variety which germinates and cultivates easily can be mass marketed by an Heirloom-compassionate company?  Often, large commercial plots devoted to open pollination sow and then harvest seeds only from the parent plant.  Seeds are saved and stored for the purpose of re-sowing them. Hubbard squash, seeded melons, potatoes and pumpkins have been great examples of successful open pollinated varieties.

Heirloom Seeds: Rare Treasure or Mainstream Expectation?

Diminishing the quality and reputation of an heirloom seed because it has enjoyed commercial success or because it is available for mainstream purchase, doesn’t make it less of an heirloom simply because it isn’t rare.  Heirloom characteristics isolate their hardiness as cultivars; they germinate easily and flourish readily.  Because plants are allowed to evolve, we continue to enjoy the quality that random selection provides for us.

How to Save and Store Seeds

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By: Charlene Rennick

The success secret of preserving a seed is making sure that the climate and growth cycle experienced during the maturation of the seed is reproduced during the storage of the seed. To do this, the geographical origin of the parent plant must be determined ahead of time.   

Co-ordinate the Indigenous Climate with the Storage Environment

If the seed is from a tropical fruit grown closer to the equator, the storage area should be dry but warm.  This kind of seed will not survive a dormant period or freezing to preserve it because it does not have that kind of temperature or growing cycle in its natural environment.  Conversely, if the seed has been produced by a parent plant from a northern climate, it will lend itself to drying and freezing as a storage method because it is used to a shorter growth cycle followed by a colder, dry, dormant period.

Seeds are merely the casing for plant DNA which breaks down over time, even in ideal storage conditions.  Occasional sowing is necessary to keep the seeds fresh, the DNA viable, and the plant updated to the ever-changing environmental variables it will experience when it is eventually planted in the ground.

Recalcitrant and Orthodox Seed Storage

For the purpose of storage, there are two different kinds of seeds: orthodox and recalcitrant.  Orthodox seeds can remain inactive for years in a cool, dry storage condition while recalcitrant seeds can be damaged by drying and freezing procedures; they don’t store well at all.  Mango, avocado, cocoa, rubber tree, litchi are some examples of seeds that do not withstand freezing and drying. 

Large-scale and Home Hobby Seed Saving

Ideally, orthodox seeds should be allowed to dry.  For home hobby use, this is most successful in a well-ventilated, cool environment followed by wrapping in newsprint (unprinted) or a plain paper bag.  Moisture and mildew are destructive to seeds.  Once they are dried, they can be frozen in their paper inside an air-tight container or within a sealed jar.  If you are using them the spring following the drying season, paper bags should suffice to protect them. If the seed storage is a large operation, seeds are dried to a moisture content of less than 6% and stored in freezers at minus 18 degrees Celsius. (wikipedia). 

Seed Saving Safeguards Species

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By: Charlene Rennick

Seed saving is the practice of propagating new plants from the previous generation using its seeds.  Traditionally, this is the method used by agriculturalists to reproduce crops in the field from one year to the next.  Recently, seed saving has declined as a means of cultivation due to the prominence of cloning and hybridizing plants.

Seed Saving Preserves Species

Heirloom plants are accessible now because people have saved seeds for domestic use throughout generations of sustenance farming.  Passing down seeds from one family member to the next has preserved many varieties of flowers, fruits, nut trees, vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants.  Saving seeds in storage will safeguard the Earth’s vegetation in the event of world-wide catastrophes, war, pandemic outbreaks and other unforeseen disasters.

Seed saving is made possible because of the advantages open-pollination offers to the proliferation of every plant species.   From an evolutionary perspective, without open pollination, any plants capable of producing viable seeds would eventually become extinct.  Sadly, many varieties of nut-producing trees (butternut) and seeded fruit have already become virtually extinct because seed saving has lost mainstream popularity.

Disadvantages of Hybridization

Reproduction and hybridization in controlled environments restricts the gene pool.  This precludes indigenous species from adapting and evolving symbiotically with the changing local climate. Random selection provided from a diversified gene pool makes stronger and better plants from the variables specific to the environment.  Plants that are artificially propagated have traits that are valued in the consumer market; these are not necessarily contrived to proliferate the species. Simulated pollination does not consistently produce plants with seeds that will germinate a new generation.

Seed Saving is Green Gardening

Genuine seed saving is too time-consuming for the commercial market. The mass production of produce and garden foliage has relegated the act of seed saving to an almost cult-like activity practised by environmental conservationists, small hobby farmers, organic gardeners and historians concerned with preserving our culture for future generations. The popularity of seedless variations of watermelon, grapes, clementines and even tomatoes has negotiated the need for natural pollination, the preservation of species and their seeds.  Is it worth it?

How LED Grow Lights Recycle your Money

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By: Charlene Rennick

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode.  This kind of bulb has been popular for decades to illuminate clock displays, stereo equipment, flashlights and outdoor-lit advertisements.  Because they emit more light per watt than regular incandescent light bulbs, they have a potential to save hydro dollars and excess energy consumption.

 

Recently, advancements in LED technology have produced more sizes and shapes of LED bulbs increasing their application base as a regular household lighting device.  They leave less of a carbon footprint than an incandescent bulb and do not produce much heat when lit.  The most widely-known benefit of LED bulbs is that they produce light for a longer period of time.  LEDs have an average lifespan of 35 000 to 50 000 hours as opposed to 1000 to 2000 incandescent or 30 000 fluorescent hours.

LED bulbs have several less obvious advantages.  They can be used more efficiently as a colour bulb than other types of lights because they do not require additional filters to change the hue.  Because of their shape, they lend themselves more readily to being direction-focused; whereas, incandescent bulbs need additional accessories to train the light emissions. LED bulbs have a solid structure; they are not particularly delicate and are not as susceptible to electrical surges or shocks as incandescent, fluorescent and halogen bulbs.  For lighting that requires frequent on/off phases, LED bulbs are more resistant to the wear and tear than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.  This makes LED bulbs a better bet for use with a timer. In addition, LEDs lose brightness over a long period of time.  This gradual dimming has the advantage of providing a warning period before a replacement will be necessary; it avoids the risks associated with an abrupt burn-out.  With some applications, the sudden absence of light creates environmental damage or human safety hazards due to spontaneous darkness. LEDs light up quickly and are mercury-free.  Overall, they perform better over time than fluorescent, incandescent and halogen bulbs.

Known disadvantages of LED bulbs are that they are more expensive at the outset to purchase without considering their long-term savings advantage.  They cannot be used in dimmer switches and can be subject to extremes in temperatures (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_sink).  Another drawback is that LED bulbs generate light from a different part of the spectrum.  This causes objects to be perceived as an altered colour from that which would be produced if the same object was viewed using natural sunlight or incandescent light.  Sometimes, the electrical current source may need to be adjusted to accommodate the LED bulb. Presently, there is some concern that the blue light content of LEDs may conflict with safety regulations.  This issue is called the blue-light hazard and it may have a negative effect on the eyes.

In addition to their longer life span, energy saving benefit and reduced noise, LED lights eliminate the need for a ballast which is necessary to control the voltage.  If both Metal Halide and HPS bulbs are in use, more than one type of ballast is needed; thus, substituting LED lights potentially eliminates more than one piece of equipment.

The use of LED lights as a substitute for HID grow lights in indoor gardens looks promising, however its practical application for hobby gardeners is probably a few years away yet.

The Green Philosophy of Organic Gardening

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When we say organic we are talking about a method of working with nature and natural products to improve the environment we live in. It is a philosophy of giving back to Mother Nature rather than taking away. Organic gardening may sound like a new way of doing things, but it is simply going back to the way our pre-industrial ancestors grew food and nurtured plants – using natural fertilizers, reclaiming waste materials, and recycling nutrients into the soil. [Read more…] about The Green Philosophy of Organic Gardening

What is Aquaponics?

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Aquaponics is a farming combination of aquaculture and hydroponics.  Traditional aquaculture is the practice of fish farming.  Traditional hydroponics is farming plants in soil less media or strictly in nutrient solutions.  Aquaponics combines the two practices to form a co-dependent farming ecosystem that capitalizes on the benefits of aquaculture and hydroponics and minimizes the negative effects of each.

[Read more…] about What is Aquaponics?

Hydroponics in Community Gardens

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Community gardens are places for people to grow fresh flowers and produce somewhere other than where they live.  Perfect for apartment dwellers, community gardens allow plant-lovers to sink their hands into the dirt.  In inner-city, urban areas, community gardens provide beauty in often run-down neighborhoods.  Turning vacant lots into gardens is proven to lower crime in the area.  Community gardens provide residents with gathering places to meet and get to know each other.  The gardens do foster a sense of community.

Community Gardens in Cold Places

Most people probably think of community gardens as gardens located in vacant lots, or in public parks or pieces of land.  For gardeners living in cold areas where winter is longer than summer, community plots are increasingly found in greenhouses.  Greenhouses are places for traditional growing of plants in soil; however, to make better use of space, hydroponics and simple hydroponics systems allow growers to produce much more food per square foot than traditional growing methods.  In Canada, local community foundations have contributed money toward community space in greenhouses.

Rooftop Community Gardens

Urban areas often lack space on the ground for gardening.  Where there is free space suitable for gardening, development and building is not far behind.  Residents of Montreal, Canada, have taken matters into their own hands and started rooftop community gardens.  These gardens in the sky have made use of “simple hydroponics” systems that involve growing plants without soil in light media such as vermiculite, or in simple nutrient solutions.  Hydroponics and rooftop gardens go hand-in-hand, as extra weight from soil would crush the roof.

Institute of Simplified Hydroponics

Around the world, the Institute of Simplified Hydroponics develops and supports hydroponics community gardens and farming ventures to help fight hunger in impoverished areas.  Large-scale hydroponics systems can be expensive and out of reach for many hungry people.  Through teachers, video and DVD classes and CDRom resources, the ISH spreads knowledge of hydroponics around the world.  The charitable arm of the ISH is called “Hydro for Hunger.”  This affiliated organization raises money to support hydroponics projects that need extra funding.

Hydroponics for Healthy Communities

Hydroponics systems are ways for people without land, or living in areas inhospitable to traditional farming to produce their own food in a cost-effective manner.  In populations that are chronically undernourished, the fresh produce from hydroponics systems provides essential vitamins and minerals that might otherwise be out of reach.

Hydroponics Fights Hunger

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Food shortages and food inaccessibility due to economic reasons are problems common to countries around the world.  Land unsuitable for traditional farming contributes to food shortages, as do urban conditions preventing self sufficiency.  Hydroponics gardening and farming techniques are being used around the world to help fight hunger.

 

Hydroponics in Inhospitable Locations
In areas of Pakistan, traditional farming methods are expensive and impractical.  Water, a precious commodity in the arid landscape, is lost at an alarmingly high rate with traditional methods.  Water evaporates into the air, drains through the soil and is taken up by weeds, making farming in the soil unaffordable for farmers.  Inability to farm, and no money with which to purchase fresh food leaves many in Pakistan hungry.

The government of Pakistan is beginning to see the value of hydroponics farming to help fight hunger. A test project overseen by a Dutch expert in hydroponics recently began in Islamabad.  Five acres of land are producing tens of thousands of kilograms of tomatoes a week.  With such huge results on very little space, the possibility of hydroponics making an impact on the economic situation in Pakistan is real.  Because hydroponics farms require infrastructure in the form of water and electricity, before the farms can become a reality, infrastructure around the country will need improvement.

Hydroponics Beats Disease
In North Korea, potatoes are a staple crop.  Producing tubers, or potatoes from which new potatoes are started is a lengthy process fraught with failure.  Potatoes are susceptible to a wide variety of diseases and producing disease-free starter stock presents a challenge.  To counter effects of potato diseases, a philanthropic organization “World Vision” has partnered with the North Korean government to start hydroponics potato seedling farms.

North Koreans suffer from hunger due to inhospitable growing conditions, lack of free trade, poor weather and poverty.  The ability to grow more potatoes will help improve overall health conditions. World Vision is also experimenting with farming methods to grow cucumbers and other produce to help enhance the nutrient-deficient diet of North Koreans.

Hydroponics Helps
Even within nations traditionally considered “developed,” poverty prevents thousands of individuals from consuming fresh produce and gaining necessary nutrients.  In Penfield, New York, Freshwise Farms, a hydroponics greenhouse grows tons of produce each year for the local community.  The farm is owned by Foodlink, a program devoted to fighting hunger in the region surrounding the farm.  Profits from sales go to help fight hunger locally, while produce grown at the farm makes affordable fresh foods available to local residents.

Whether in far-flung desert locations in Asia or temperate climates of North America, hydroponics gardening can contribute to the greater heath of a population.  Look for hydroponics to revolutionize agriculture around the world in years to come.