STURBRIDGE — Have you ever wondered how to save your own seeds from the plants you grow year after year? At the annual Old Sturbridge Village Garden Symposium on April 7, participants will discover the joys, benefits, and techniques of seed saving. Expert gardeners will explain which plants are best adapted for this practice, and uncover the secrets — and value — of preserving heirloom varieties.
The keynote address will be delivered by Hannah Traggis, senior horticulturist at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Elm Bank. In her talk "Seeds: The Powerhouse of Civilization" she will describe the case for and cultural importance of saving open pollinated seeds.
Gretel Anspach, a retired Raytheon engineer and Master Gardener, will present "Seed Saving 101," a primer for beginning and experienced gardeners with tips and techniques for collecting and preserving seeds from a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs.
Other workshops during the day-long symposium will cover topics such as "19th-century Seed Saving" and "Collecting and Saving Seeds from Fruits."
The Symposium begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, and costs $50 for the day, or $40 for OSV members. An optional boxed lunch may be purchased for an additional $15.
To register, visit www.osv.org/saveseeds or call 508-347-0290.