Seed Diversity

One of the most important aspects of high-nutrition planting is the need for seed diversity. Seeds are alive, with a vitality that supports a plant's health. Taking time to collect seeds or allowing a plant to reseed sustains survival of the plants. Seed harvesting supports the diversity of species, and even helps to reduce weeds and grass that grow in your garden.

Both Virgil (Roman poet, scholar, 70–19 B.C.) and Pliny (Roman naturalist, 23–79 A.D.) strongly recommended sowing fresh seeds from one year or less. To sustain strong plants, Jefferson taught to select only one or two of the best species or varieties of every vegetable.

When Anasazi women gathered amaranth seeds, piñon nuts, sunflower seeds, and tansy mustard seeds, they took only what was needed for the day to grind into flour; seeds were left to feed the wildlife, to reseed and to harvest for the next year's crop. Other Southwestern native women organized their different seed corn varieties by the particular uses—as flour, porridge, popcorn, corn cakes, hominy, or for ceremony.