WELCOME SEEDLINGS!
Did you find a packet of seeds in your bag? Surprise! They’re from me. The Seed Wizard. They’re here to teach you how to plant and harvest seeds from your packets. And once you conquer that, you will become a Seed Superhero!
BUT FIRST, WANT TO MEET A REAL LIVE SEED SUPERHERO?
Meet Frank Morton! Frank has an organic farm called Wild Garden Seed in the Pacific Northwest where he grows seeds of salad greens, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. But Frank isn’t only a farmer, he’s a plant breeder. Plant breeders actually create brand new varieties of plants! New varieties offer different tastes and colors but they can also help make plants hardier and more resistant to bugs or drought.
HOW TO PLANT YOUR SEEDS OUTDOORS
1. Add to soil. Not too deep.
2. Watch them sprout.
3. Look for flowers.
4. Ready to harvest.
5. Time to eat!
2. Watch them sprout.
3. Look for flowers.
4. Ready to harvest.
5. Time to eat!
Seeds are space travelers! Astronauts on the International Space Station grew a crop of ‘Outredgeous’ Lettuce, a Red Romaine Lettuce planted from seeds they brought from Oregon. They found it delicious.
WHAT IS THE SEEDLINGS PROGRAM?
We’ve been giving seeds to kids since 2002 to help kids understand the connection between our food and where it comes from. There’s nothing like planting a seed, watering, waiting, then watching it sprout into something you can eat! Also, do we really need more tiny plastic toys to step on or toss in a landfill?
OUR COMMITMENT TO OPEN-POLLINATED BREEDING
But there’s a deeper story to our investment in seeds. We purchase non-GMO, organic open-pollinated seeds developed by plant breeders that care about organic farming. Open-pollinated breeding is a way to preserve seed sovereignty. Seed sovereignty is the right to save, breed and exchange seeds.
ABOUT OUR SEED PACKETS AND OTHER RESOURCES
How long do the seeds last?
When kept in a cool, dry, dark space, seeds can last between 2-5 years.
How should I store them?
Store your unused seeds in an airtight container like a glass jar, plastic or metal. Place the container in a consistently cool, dry dark place like a cupboard.
What if I don’t plan to use my seed packets?
We hope you will, but if not, please pass them on! They make fun gifts for friends, neighbors, teachers etc.
I harvested my seeds! Now what?
It’s time to eat! Check out your cookbooks or go online to search for recipes.
Resources
A Handful of Seeds (Occidental Art and Ecology Center)
kidsgardening.org is a great place to find lesson plans, curriculum, student photo contests and other fun activities.