Survival Seed Banks, Part 2: Types and Qualities of Seeds to Include

Reader Contribution by Joseph Lofthouse
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Part one of the emergency seed bank article evaluated the offerings currently on the market and found them mostly unsatisfactory. Today’s article, part two, details the quantities and varieties of seeds that I think should be included in an emergency seed bank. Part three will discuss long-term storage of seeds.

I recommend that the following quantities and types of seeds be included in an emergency seed bank suitable for planting a one acre garden. Emphasis is on staples: crops that provide a lot of food that can be stored long-term without refrigeration. I’d rather see lots of different varieties for each item in the list rather than only one variety per species. Genetically diverse varieties and mixed seed are preferred over highly inbred varieties or single cultivars. Hybrids are OK to use for some species. I believe that if the time ever comes when we are required to grow our own seed, we’ll be better of starting our survival-of-the-fittest gardens with a lot different kinds of genetically diverse parents.

Joseph’s Survival Seed Bank Seed Variety Recommendations

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