West County Community Seed Exchange

February Gathering

2012-02-13T04:47:00.000-08:00

February Gathering

Saturday the 25th

St. Stephens Church

9-10:30 Seed Garden Work Party

10:30-12:00 Workshop on Seed Processing and Storing

Seed Exchange Open from 9:00-12:30

West County Seed Bank at Rare Fruit Growers Scion Exchange Jan 28th

2012-01-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

The West County Seed Exchange will have a table at the upcoming Redwood Chapter of the Rare Fruit Grower's Scion Exchange on January 28th. This amazing event is held at the Vet's Hall in Sebastopol and opens to the public at 11:oo am. There is a $5 feeentrance fee.Free scions, grafting workshops as well as custom grafting on rootstock available. Members get in early and this alone is worth the cost of joining up! For more details! http://www.crfg.org/chapters/redwood_empire/

Seeds grown in West County will be available at the scion exchange as well as an ongoing demonstration on seed processing.

The Seed Exchange will not have a January class or work party but the seed library will be open from 10-12 pm on that Saturday thanks to our amazing head "seed librarian "Jess!

2012-01-02T14:43:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year Seed Savers!

Put us in your calendar for 2012- the last Saturday of the month from 9 to 12:30 except November and December. First Seedy Gathering in 2012 is January 28th! We will processing seed from the seed garden and any seed people want to bring in and get cleaned up.

September Class Changes, Come Learn the basics!!

2011-09-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 24th Seed Gathering

10:30 class will be Seed Saving for Beginners with Electra De Peyster

Join us to work in the seed garden from 9 to 10:30.

Bring your seed and plants to share and exchange ( it is garlic planting time!)

500 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol

St Stephen's Church

Corn and Bean Basics in May

2011-05-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

May 28th West County Community Seed Bank Gathering

9-10:30- Work in the Seed Garden- lots of planting and irrigation to do

10:30- 12- Class on growing beans and corn

Seed available 10 to 12:30

Bring plants and seed to share, what are you going to grow for seed this year?

videos posted on web

2011-05-01T20:06:00.001-07:00

We have been getting all of our classes on video and posting them on vimeo.

Go to this link to see the classes:

http://vimeo.com/groups/83014/videos

April 30th Seed Gathering

2011-04-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

Join us Saturday April 30th for the West County Community Seed Bank Gathering

St Stephen's Church, 500 Robinson Rd

9 to 10:30- work party in the seed garden

10:30 Class on Growing and Saving Seed from Cucurbits ( Squash family) with Yeti, garden guru.

We have lots of seed so come by and check out the inventory.

and bring any seed you have grown to share with the seed bank!

Soil Food Web summary posted

2011-03-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

PhilEngfer kindly sent a summary of his talk on Soil Food Webs from the January Meeting.

It can be viewed in the pages to the left.

Great video on the our Seed Bank

2011-03-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

Our last gathering got a great video visitor, he really captures the idea and Peter,Coya and Jerry do a great job explaining.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9kmjrs3-o

2011-02-16T14:28:00.001-08:00

Next Gathering:

February 26, 2011

Transition Meeting room

Meeting space is in the back of the church

ST. Stephen's Episcopal Church

500 Robinson Way, Sebastopol

10:30-11:30 Crop Rotation Discussion with Heidi Herrmann Sustainable Ag Instructor at Santa Rosa JC

10:30-12:30 Seed Exchange open

Seed Bank Tasks

2010-12-05T15:29:00.000-08:00

At the last planning meeting several subcommittees were formed and some tasks were created.

Contact westcountyseedbank@gmail.com to volunteer or for more information.

Committees

Seed Bank Classes- planning for the upcoming year.

Seed Bank Resources- research what is out there already and determine what to post on blogsite. Look for seed saving basics, protocols, how to's etc. Videos also. Post notes from gaterings

Outreach and Networking- helping to get the word out about the seed bank, managing emails and blogsite, logo development

Seed Bank Garden Planning-plan, plant and maintain the seed garden

Volunteers

Sign up to be a SEED HOST, to set up and clean up at a gathering. Seed hosts welcome new members and introduces them to the seed library. Helps to log in new seed donations.
Note taking at meetings and gatherings

Seed Bank Planning meeting Jan.10@3:30

2010-12-05T15:26:00.000-08:00

Seed Bank Planning meeting

Jan.10@3:30

Transition Meeting Room

St Stephen's Church

Discussion:

SEED Bank Garden planning

Seed Bank Donation

Seed Bank Tasks

2010-09-21T22:35:00.001-07:00

Growing Grains in the Winter Garden , Saturday Sept. 25th

Join the West County Community Seed Bank for our monthly seed gathering and class.

Work party in the Community Seed Garden from 9 to 10:30

Class on Small Scale Grain Growing at 10:30.

Seed Bank seeds are available the whole time and remember to bring seeds and plants to share.

500 Robinson Rd. Sebastopol

at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Processing Seeds Class in August

2010-08-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

A fun class on processing seeds will be at our August Seed Bank.

Saturday August 28th at our Community Seed Garden at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sebastopol.

9-10:30 work party in the garden

10:30-12 class on seed processing- dry seed, wet processing, winnowing, storing

10-1 seed and plant exchange

500 Robinson Rd. - Robinson is off of Bodega Hwy just before Luther Burbank's Goldridge Farm on the left.

Everyone is welcome, children too! Please bring seeds and plants to share.

July Seed Gathering

2010-07-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Join us for our monthly Seed Gathering on Saturday July 31 from 9 to 1 at our new home at St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sebastopol. Our lovely seed garden at the site is flourishing and we have been busy hand pollinating squash. The routine is 9-10:30 work in the seed garden, then 10:30 on will be an open gathering and seed will be available the whole time. This seed bank due to so many people being on vacation will not have a specific class. Bring seeds and plants to share.

St Stephen's is located on 500 Robinson Rd. which is off of Bodega Hwy- just before Luther Burbank Farm if heading west.

July 31st Seed Gathering

2010-07-13T22:13:00.001-07:00

Join us for the next gathering of the West County Community Seed Bank, Saturday July 31st. There is a work party in the new seed garden from 9 to 10:30, class still to be decided at 10:30 and seed exchange open the whole time. Bring seeds and plants to share.

500 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

(Robinson Rd is south, off of Bodega Hwy about a 1/2 mile from downtown)

June 26th Seed Bank Gathering

2010-06-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

West County Community Seed Bank

Saturday June 26th 10- 1 (work in the garden starts at 9)

St Stephen's Episcopal Church

500 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol ( take 12 heading west out of downtown, Robinson is the 3rd left after Main St, just before Burbank Heights and the Goldridge Farm)

join us at 10:30 for a garden gab- with everyone sharing ideas, information, successes, questions and a little gopher trap demo. Bring your garden experience and questions and join in the round table.

We will be working in the seed garden from 9 to 10:30, bring weeding tools as the weeds have come back.

Bring seeds and plants to share and as always we will have the seed bank seeds out for you.

If you would like to help set up, be the seed host, or help with clean up- please let me know.

Hope your gardens are taking off!

Sara

2010-05-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

We have decided that we are going to start the West County Community

Seed Bank Garden.

The location is St Stephen's Episcopal Church at 500 Robinson Ave.

in Sebastopol. We will start small and only do as much as we have

time and energy for. We have a donation of irrigation equipment, the

field has been mowed and is being plowed tomorrow. The only thing we

have to figure out is the gophers!

We invite you to join us next Sunday , May 16th as we begin the

garden as a part of the 350 Garden Challenge. We will have a work

party from 10 to 3 and see if we can get a bunch of beds prepped for

planting in the next couple of weeks. Bring tools- shovels, forks

and rakes,and wheel barrows (if it is not too hard) as we have 10

yards of compost donated. Bring a lunch or something to share.

If you have any favorite plants you think we should consider for our

initial planting to grow to seed please let me know and we will begin

to compile a list to consider.

If you would like to be part of the planning and design, we are

trying to have a meeting sometime this week or before the work party

on Sunday- let me know if you are interested.

Sara

April Gathering

2010-04-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

The next Seed Gathering is Saturday April 24th from 10 to 1 at Laguna Farms in Sebastopol, 1764 Cooper Rd. . The class at 10:30 will be on plant propagation- soft wood cuttings. Remember it is parade day and getting through Sebastopol will be a bit slow and tricky, best to skip downtown.

Also check us out at the Sustainable Gardening Festival at Finley Park in Santa Rosa, on Sat. April 24 12 to 4:30.

Seed Saving Protocol

2010-03-04T21:24:00.000-08:00

Seed Saving Protocol

We ask that when you bring seed to the West County Community Seed Bank that you follow certain protocol. We want people who take seed to get what was on the label and we want to protect from passing on disease. The following is our basic protocol:

1. Save from healthy plants. Even if a disease does not get passed on through the seed, we do like to have some selection for disease resistance by only saving from healthy, strong plants.

2. Save from a number of plants so that the seed has some genetic diversity in it. The quantity that is optimum depends on the type of plant, for self pollinating plants a minimum of 6 plants is necessary, for cross pollinating you want to save from much a larger population- see seed saving information sheets.

3. If the plant cross pollinates you want to make sure you keep it isolated so it stays true. Check with a seed saving chart or book to get isolation distances.

4. When you bring seed to share at the Seed Bank please label with as much information as you can.

5. We all save seed from a favorite that might not be from a number of plants or isn’t super healthy, or maybe we like some interesting crosses. You are welcome to bring those seeds just make sure you write that down on the label so others know they are participating in your experiment.

Growing Potatoes

2010-03-04T21:22:00.001-08:00

This is from the class that was taught on Feb. 27th n growing potatoes.

Potato Basics

Soil- Best is deep, light and loose loam- but can grow in most soils. One of the vegetables that like a fairly acidic soil-5.2 to 6.8 ph. Best to amend with compost, sulphur to acidify soil, avoid fresh manures they encourage scab, also high nitrogen tends to promote vine growth and reduce tuber production. Potatoes are a great first crop in a new area- especially if lawn has been sheet mulched as they like the organic matter breaking down, are not super tender and with the hilling and mulching, weeds and re growing grass are smothered out.

Planting: Though they like cool weather, potatoes will rot in cold, wet soil. Wait for soils to warm to at least 55 –70 degrees. Make sure soil is not water logged. They are frost sensitive- the above ground part will get killed by a heavy frost, they can regrow but numerous frosts will set plant back. Can plant from mid March to June in Sonoma.

You can presprout the potatoes for quicker emergence- by spreading potatoes in a crate or box, keeping in a warm, medium light spot and sprouting. Allow one or two weeks to sprout. Avoid letting potatoes get long sprouts that easily break off. Perfect seed potato size is about the size of an egg- 2-4 oz. For larger potatoes you can cut the potatoes up with each potato piece having several eyes. People often let the potatoes scab over for a day before planting if they have cut them. Larger potatoes tend to produce fewer large potatoes, and smaller ones more small potatoes.

Multiple ways to plant:

Most common- dig a shallow trench- 6-10 inches deep, plant the seed pieces 12-16 inches apart, unless really small. Cover with 4-6 inches of soil.

Other options- chop down grass and weeds in an area, add a layer of compost, sheet mulch with newspaper and straw. Every 12 inches make a hole in the mulch and nuzzle in a potato.

Container or basket method- if potatoes continue to be mulched or covered partially with soil- they will continue to grow up and produce more tubers along the stem. Start with a large container or wire basket- add 6 inches of soil. Add a potato, when plant is 6 inches tall add more soil or straw mulch to the top of the plant allowing top leaves to show, keep doing this, as long as the plant grows.

Care- Keep beds well weeded, hilling the soil up around the plant. Hint it is easier in the early evening to hill plants because the leaves fold upwards and you can tuck the soil under. After several hillings, mulch to keep soil cool and moist. Potatoes respong well to foliar fed of kelp or maxicrop

Watering- less water makes better tasting and higher protein potatoes, Allow soil to dry out and water long and deep. But you may get smaller yields if you hold back too much on water.

Pests- main problem is gophers- plant in gopher protected areas. Most other pests only make holes in the leaves without doing much damage.

Harvest- once plants are in full bloom there are potatoes forming if you want some yummy early creamers harvest some when in full bloom or just after blooms fade. Wait for plants to start to die back before harvesting main crop. Stop watering them at this stage. Allowing plant to die back, toughens the skins making them better storage potatoes. You can leave them in the soil for several weeks to toughen the skins.

Next Seed Bank is Saturday February 27th in Sebastopol

2010-02-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

The next gathering and exchange will be on Saturday February 27th from 10 to 1 , once again in Sebastopol at Petaluma Homes Common House at 571 Petaluma Ave. Next to Palm Drive Hospital. Please park on the street and walk in.

From 10:30 to 11:30 we will be talking about beginning seed saving and then about planting potatoes- how tos, things to know...

We had a big turn out at the last seed bank making it even more important that we save more seeds as the jars are not as full. We got commitments from people to participate in a open pollinated broccoli trial, and to Amish Snap Pea and Super Sugar Snap Pea seed saving.

Bring your seed and knowledge, take home seeds and knowledge.

Beautiful Long Article in The Press Democrat

2010-02-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday January 30th we had a nice long article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat about seed saving and The West County Community Seed Bank. Check it out!!

Because of the article we had our largest seed bank gathering ever. Over 35 people. Lots of seed went out the door, making it even more important that we grow the number of people growing out seed. We have people committed to growing out two varieties of peas and Phil Persons is going to organize a broccoli trial with 4 different varieties- Nutri Bud, Decicco, Calabrese, and Waltham 29. Yeti is spearheading a carrot trial and grow out, which takes us all the way to next summer- varieties include Touchon, Danvers half long, St. Valeries.

We hope that everyone who takes seed, commits to grow out something for seed and brings us back something.

Next Seed Bank is going to be in Sebastopol again.

Seed Bank in January moves into Town

2010-01-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

West County Community Seed Bank is this Saturday the 30th from 10 to 1!

A new location for this one time: 571 Petaluma Ave in Sebastopol- At the Petaluma Ave. Homes Common House right next to Palm Drive Hospital. Park on the street and walk into the community- the Common House is in the center of the community.

Electra and Moi inventoried our seed and with a few new ones added we have over 95 varieties!! Come by and get your seeds for your 2010 garden.

From 10:30-11:30 we will have a round table discussion about spring garden favorites- what does well here, and try to make some plans for seed saving projects this year.

Garlic Exchange at next seed bank Oct.31

2009-10-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

WEST COUNTY COMMUNITY SEED BANK

Garlic Exchange

October 31, 10 AM – 1 PM,

in the garden at Salmon Creek School,

1935 Bohemian Hwy. Occidental

Please bring garlic from your garden to share with

others- named and unnamed varieties welcome.

Class on garlic growing at 10:30. Local Food lunch at noon.

We meet the last Saturday of each month (except Nov. and Dec.) to share seed growing and saving techniques, swap plants and seeds, and exchange ideas and information.

All Sonoma County gardeners are invited to join us in creating a repository of free, locally grown, open pollinated, pesticide-free, non-GMO vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.

Info: Sara, 829-5234, saramc@emeraldearth.org

2009-09-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

The West County Community Seed Bank is looking for tomatoes to save seed from. We hope to build a large inventory of varieties for the spring. We are looking for people who are willing to share their tomatoes. This is what we need: tomatoes from at least six plants of the same variety, from healthy plants, known variety, 10-15 tomatoes. We can come harvest, and you can also keep the meaty part for sauce and just give us the seeds. Contact me at saramc@emeraldearth.org

Don't forget the next gathering will be include a tomato taste test, tomato seed saving along with a class about other wet seed processing. Saturday Sept. 26 10-1!!

What to Expect at a Meeting/Workshop

2009-09-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone is at a different level of experience with saving and sharing seeds. And it's hard to know what to expect when you've just begun or have never tried at all! So, here is one member's Introduction to The West County Community Seed Bank & What to Expect at a Meeting.

"Hi, my name is Megan Perkins and I live in Guerneville, CA. I saw a blurb in one of the local papers about a seed bank and was instantly interested. So I bribed my husband with breakfast at Howard's Station and we went to the August meeting (followed by a car show). Needless to say, he was almost as excited as I am and is looking forward to future meetings.

"When you are coming to a meeting, pack the seeds you want to share in jars, envelopes, ziplock bags, etc. As long as the seeds are clean, dry and labeled, it's just fine. Bring water or something to drink and something for the potluck lunch. No one is turned away for not bringing seeds or food, but it is fun. There's a bathroom nearby and you can refill your water jug at the garden sink. If you can, bring coin envelopes for the seeds you want to take home. I bring a permenant marker to label the envelope too... But that's just me. A hat and sunscreen aren't bad ideas either, especially on a hot day.

"Get to the Salmon Creek School and when you come into the parking lot, turn right into the gravel lot and park near the school garden. You might even find some shade. There are a few tables set up in the garden, next to the kitchen/garden building, in the shade, and a stand of chairs. One table has seed catalogs, fliers, handouts, information to check out. Another table has seeds for planting right away (current season). And another table has seeds for any and everything else. There are commercial seed packets from companies that support the same principles as this group and seeds that other folks have donated. Put your seeds on the proper table (someone will probably help you) and take a look for seeds you may want to take to your garden!

"There is a basket with coin envelopes to use, if you didn't bring your own, and a couple pens and such. I just asked everyone around me what to do and they pointed me in the right direction. It's a very friendly group and I was certainly at home among gardening folk. From 10 to 10:30 am you mill about chatting with folks and trading seeds. Then the groups gathers at the chairs to start the workshop about 10:30 am.

"The workshop I attended in August was about making sourkraut... This is why my husband was so excited! And boy, has it been tasty. The subject varies from month to month and is generally about something season specific. September is saving seeds from tomatoes and October is on garlic. The workshop goes until 11:30 or noon-ish and is followed by a potluck lunch.

"All in all, it's pretty chill and informative. Let's see... Other things at the meeting... A sign in sheet, a page about carpooling from Sebastopol if you are interested, and that's about it. I hope more folks join the group and come to the meetings... I'm always looking for shade loving veggies and plants to grow under my redwood trees!"

Welcome to Our Blog!

2009-09-08T23:23:00.000-07:00

Our Vision:

To create a grassroots community seed bank that supports Sonoma County gardeners with free, locally grown, open-pollinated, pesticide and GMO-free seeds. All gardeners with or with out seeds to share are welcome. We hope that many gardeners will commit to grow out and donate back to the seed bank. The West County Seed Bank and Seed Garden is housed at the St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sebastopol and is open to the public monthly for classes, resource sharing and a seed and plant exchange.

Why save seed and why a local seed bank?

Our rapidly changing world gives us more and more reasons to strengthen our local resources and our ability to be self-sufficient. Local seed saving allows us to cultivate plants that do well in our region, with each generation adapting more to the local environment. We preserve heirloom seeds that are lost as the seed industry concentrates into fewer and fewer large corporations. Seed banks are a great investment; with some plants one seed can return up to 40,000. The abundance seed savers experience is shared with the community and helps model a different economic system. We hope to cultivate a network of seed savers in the region, supporting each other and the seed library as a resource for the expanding community of gardeners, and to strengthen our local food system.

As we grow:
Our leaves will spread and our roots will develop. Our knowledge will spill into articles, stories and projects to post and share with our neighbors near and far. We will post photos and recipes from our workshops and meetings. And, maybe, you will join us on the last Saturday of the month at St. Stephens Episcopal Church to share your knowledge and seeds with us.