Stroll through the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, and you'll inevitably see a crowd of people running their fingers through a tub of dried beans at the Rancho Gordo stand. It's ...

Will Bonsall has spent a lifetime scattering heirloom seeds across the country. But will his efforts fall among the thorns? ... His 2015 book, Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant ...

A good source for heirloom seeds is The Seed Savers Exchange. Since 1975, it has collected and stored seeds from gardeners and farmers. You can join their nonprofit or just buy some seeds or books ...

The Heirloom Seed Library is available to all library cardholders. Cardholders are able to "check out" up to four seed packets per visit, just like they would books.

Usually at least 50 years old, heirloom seed varieties offer multiple benefits, and they don’t require special equipment or growing conditions to flourish.

Heirloom garden plants are old varieties that are open-pollinated, allowing home gardeners to save seed and preserve the plant’s unique adaptations, flavors, and appearance for generations.

Though not all open-pollinated seeds are heirlooms, heirloom seeds are always open-pollinated — meaning the plant is pollinated naturally, by air, insects, birds or other animals — and will ...

Seeds of all varieties are available at library locations in Springfield and Republic through the Heirloom Seed Library. ... The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale is fast approaching.