Starting a Community Seed Bank: Part 3 – Keeping Records, Storing Seeds

Backgrounder

A community seed bank protects rare and local varieties of plants. In Part 2, we explained how to organize a community seed bank, and how to collect, clean and dry the seeds. In this script, we explain how to keep important information about the seeds and how to store the seeds in the bank. Encourage listeners to take notes, so that instructions can be referred to later.

Today we are continuing to describe how to set up a community seed bank. There are seven steps:

1. Organize a group of workers
2. Collect seed
3. Clean and dry seed
4. Record information about the seed
5. Store seed
6. Plant out seeds
7. Restock seed supplies

The most important information to record is:

1. The name and variety of the plant from which the seed was taken. Write down all local names of the plant, and also the scientific names. If you don’t know the scientific names, ask an extension worker.
2. The name and address of the person who collected the seed and the date the seed was collected.
3. The place where the seed was collected. Add any helpful information such as the distance from a well known landmark. Note special details of the location. For instance, is this a sloped area, is the soil well drained, are there trees?
4. Special characteristics of the plant from which all, or some, of the seed was taken. For example, if some of the seed came from a crop which tolerated drought, direct sunlight, wind or shade, then list these characteristics.
5. The date the seed was stored, and the general weather conditions during the season that the seeds were produced. For example, you may write that the seed was collected in July 1994 when the weather was dry, skies were clear, and there were lots of insects.

Write all this information on a piece of paper and put it in the bag or container with the seed. Also write the information on the outside of the container. It should also be copied onto a separate piece of paper so that the seed bank workers can refer easily to the seed supply. This gives the community extra historical information about local plants and weather conditions. Keep the list up to date. You may want to make extra copies in case the main list is lost.

Seed storage:

Local farmers both men and women know the best ways of storing seeds and keeping them clean and dry over long periods of time. So ask both women and men farmers for their ideas. Be careful when you store seed. If the seed gets wet, too hot or too cold, or is attacked by insects, then it will probably not produce good plants. You should keep the seed in clean, dry containers such as clay pots, plastic pails, or large jars.

Moisture will still collect in these containers, especially in very warm climates. To prevent this, use powder to draw the moisture away from the seeds. For example, you may be able to purchase silica gel. Put some of the silica gel in a small cloth bag and place it at the bottom of the container. Then put the seeds on top of the cloth bag. If silica gel is too expensive or not available, put a small cloth bag of dry powdered milk or brown sugar at the bottom of the container. When the silica gel, milk, or sugar becomes flat and moist, put in a fresh cloth bag filled with new powder. If you store the seed in clay pots, you may need to dry your seeds every two days by spreading them in indirect sunlight.

Sometimes the best storage containers for seeds are cloth bags. These bags should be loosely filled so that the seeds have plenty of air. Make sure that these bags do not get wet, or the seed inside will mould or rot. Sometimes insects enter cloth bags, so mix your seed with ashes, chili peppers or vegetable oil, and shake the bag often. Place cloth bags inside another container such as a clay pot or basket.

Store seed in a dark, cool, dry place such as a rock cave, or cold cellar. Too much heat or cold will kill the seeds. It is an excellent idea to put the containers of seed in a small hole in the mud floor of a hut, where the soil is cool and dry. Only when the seeds are drying should they be in indirect sunlight. After drying, return the seeds to the clay pot. In the rainy season, dry the seeds every day.