Teach a Class

Seed Saving in Community

The Seed Saving in Community Class (French, Spanish, Portuguese) is in the public domain. Feel free to use it or adjust it to suit your needs. No attribution is needed. On our Take a Class page we have several seed saving classes that were offered at our Seed Library Summits to inspire you. At the bottom of the page are several free and paid classes to dive in deeper into seed saving. Here is a video of the Seed Saving in Community Class online offered by Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library.

Training of Trainers (TOT) Resources

Seed Saving Reference Books

This toolkit is a comprehensive set of tools for trainers to use in presentations and workshops. It was created in 2012 by The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security and the Organic Seed Alliance in partnership with seed saving trainers across Canada. The kit includes a PowerPoint Presentation for trainers; a manual for the trainer with tips, exercises, and hand-outs; and factsheets on seed saving for nine crop families. We appreciate Seeds of Diversity Canada and the Organic Seed Alliance for permission to host these resources on the Seed Library Network.

Additional Resources to extend your knowledge:
Seed Botany
Flower Botany
Fruit Botany
Germination Testing (Created by Seed Savers Exchange)
Hand-Pollinating Squash (Created by Seed Savers Exchange)
Seed Saving Biennials (Created by Seed Savers Exchange)
Recommended Readings (Created by Seeds of Diversity Canada)

Resources on Plant Selection, Breeding & Trialing

How to Save Your Own Seeds: A Handbook for Small-Scale Seed Production by Seeds of Diversity Canada

This book provides a clear guide on how to save seeds in a home garden. It removes the technical information that applies to commercial seed production, making this an accessible book. Available in English & French. (Add $5 for shipping to the US). ORDER HERE

The Seed Garden by Seed Savers Exchange

This is a beautifully designed, comprehensive seed book that covers a wide range of crops, includes master classes on techniques, identifies the plant pollutions required for viable seeds, maintaining a variety, and preserving genetics. The book is filled with photos to educate and inspire. ORDER HERE

Breeding & Diversity Reference Books

Learn how to develop genetically diverse crops that will increase food security with Joseph Lofthouse's Landrace Gardening. Available at Abebooks.com in English, French, German, and Chinese. You can also register for their free Adaptation Gardening online course at GoingtoSeed.org.

Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe is written to support farmers as well as gardeners save seeds and breed new varieties. We've been stewarding our own seeds in community for thousands of years, and she brings her practical insights to help us reclaim that tradition. Deppe has also served as the Chair of the Board for the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI), which pledges to keep plant breeding material in the hands of people and not patent seeds. ORDER HERE

Community Created Resources

Click on the "Community Tips & Resources" Airtable form to see Seed Saving Brochures and Seed Saving Classes from other seed libraries and read tips about getting started.