I am like a kid with a new toy. All of the attachments I ordered for my food saver came in and I have been sucking the air out of everything.
I started with my first big harvest of lemon balm. I dried it, then crumble it, put it in a mason jar and used the lid attachment to seal the top. It was so easy. I have an oxygen absorber order that I need to pick up next Thursday. When I get it ,I have a plan. I had stored some seed last year but the germination rate was only about 60% . I am going to purchase a year’s supply of seeds now. I can still get most of what I need . Then I am going to put the seed packets in mason jars with an oxygen absorber packets and seal them. If I store the jars in a dry, dark place that stays cool, the seed should last a long time.
If I could get myself organized, I could do a real experiment and track the germination rate next year and compare it with the rate of seeds that were just stored in a drawer with no special treatment. Truth is, life is going to interfer and, in spite of my good intentions, that is never going to happen. I am going to store the seeds and if they don’t germinate well, I’ll replace them.
A whole lot of my life is like that. I could do a lot so much more efficiently if I just didn’t have to feed people, keep the house in reasonable order, earn a living, take a shower, answer the phone and sit on the porch swing with a cup of tea and a good book. Real life.
I am sitting here looking at my living room wall. My stupid cat pulled down the huge quilt that hangs behind the sofa again. Putting it back up is a monumental job. If I was a truly organized person I would realize that I am beat at this game ( the cat loves to swing on the quilt) and I would take it down and replace it with a nice print. But it is real life. I love the quilt more than I love my wasted time and the quilt is going back.
It looks like we are done with the rain, at least for a day. I need to get out to the garden and see what needs weeding (everything) and what needs thinning (beets and turnips), what got eaten by cut worms(beans), what has insect damage (squash) and what needs to be harvested (lettuce, asparagus). Real life.
June 19, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Kathy, I too, have wondered about the ‘best’ way to keep garden seed, but I’m not sure an oxygen deprived environment is the best way to go. This is from Walton Feed: (scroll down until you come to Garden & Sprouting seed) http://waltonfeed.com/old/grain/life.html I’m thinking vacuum sealed, then in to the freezer (?).
Love the fun you’ve having with the new sealer! I did the same thing when I first got mine a couple of months ago.
June 19, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Doesn’t using the food saver take the air out of the jar? I wasn’t sure that freezing was good for all seeds. I will have to read up on it and do a post at at a later date. It ‘s complicated but a really important subject. In coming hard times, the ability to save seed could be crucial.
June 19, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Mmmm, yup, good point. Not sure percentage of air, etc. And, yes, important, & I also need to be on top of this.
June 21, 2009 at 9:51 am
I just got my replacement vacuum sealer after parts in the last one broke. I mostly have used it to store food, especially dehydrated food, but I’ll ask my hubby if he wants me to vacuum seal his seeds. Is lack of light important to their preservation as well? Perhaps spray painting some permanent storage jars would work if so.
June 21, 2009 at 11:08 am
I think it would work but I am so lazy about stuff like that. I just keep things in a cabinet that is never opened except to remove food. I am waiting for mor info on seed saving. I wish I knew more.
June 21, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I am really enjoying your blog! I’ll put up a link on my blog for my readers.
You’re right about the food saver! In fact, I don’t use it nearly as much as I had intended to, which goes along with your remarks about good intentions and life interfering!
Lisa
June 21, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Thank you. I’ll have to check you as well. Survival moms rock!!!