1997 Annual Report for FNC97-189
The Economics of Seed Saving on Three Biological Farms in Western Michigan
Summary
Seed saving is as important to biodiversity as biodiversity is to sustainable agriculture.
Objectives: To identify effective techniques and costs of seed saving as an integral component of biodiversity. The coordinator involved three farms in producing, processing and saving seed from 15 to 25 varieties of squash, beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, sunflowers and gourds. He also recorded variety and quantity of saved seeds, as well as storage methods, conducted germination tests, and recorded costs.
Results: More than 400 hours of work were spent, by three families, producing and processing 19 varieties of fruits and vegtables, Seeds have been exchanged and shared with others in the agricultural community for further propagation and testing. The project was extended for six months to complete goals outlined in the proposal.