Homesteading Program Features Seed Options

    We enjoyed a special program Saturday morning featuring guest speakers, Kelly and Ryan, from "Seed the Stars" a dynamic duo of seed stewards from Mt.Dora. After a couple of decades of working in horticulture and agriculture, the couple now focuses on agri-education and growing and harvesting locally trialed, locally sourced, organically grown seeds.
   They taught for 2 hours and 15 minutes on Saturday morning to the Sowers & Growers Homesteading group at the Cassia Community Club Building.
   A great depth of knowledge was expressed as they shared teaching about starting seeds, selecting seeds, harvesting seeds, and more. They encouraged gardeners to consider factors such as humidity, soil, sowing practices, and preservation of heirloom seeds.
   They had tons of information on open-pollinated seeds, heirlooms, hybrids, and diverse seeds known as landrace seeds.
   Advanced germination techniques such as soaking, scarification, heat mapping, and cold stratification were discussed.
   One example of their local seed stewarding is their yellow Everglades tomato. It produces abundantly similar to the red Everglades that many know, but it yields earlier in the spring.
   They came with dozens of seed varieties to try in our area. They were super excited to talk about yellow Everglades tomatoes, loofa seeds, Seminole pumpkin seeds, a wide variety of peppers, pigeon peas, cowpeas, okras, and hibiscus. If you would like to attend one of their seminars or learn more, check them out on Facebook or Instagram at "Seed the Stars" Mt. Dora.
   They are currently participating in building a food forest at the Fort in Howey-in-the Hills where permaculture seminars are also being taught.
   After the meeting, club members enjoyed a covered dish dinner with food that was made by Sowers & Growers including pickled eggplants, dried Everglades tomatoes, mushrooms, and ham quiche with local eggs, Mexican rice, fresh garden salad, homemade rice pudding, pea casserole, zucchini cobbler, homemade cornbread muffin and more. The food was almost as good as the program, almost.
   For more on the monthly Sowers & Growers Homesteading meetings see their private Facebook page. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn from those doing things differently.
   That's it for this week. Keep growing. Send your garden pictures via email; to hollynewby1@aol.com or text to (352) 272-8257 with a description. You can also share to www.thenorthlakeoutpost.com/contactus.