Seed Saving and Climate Resilience in Western New York

Seed saving is a process of human selection of plants, allowing for cultural and economic considerations to impact their future. Historically, it played an important role in the development of human civilizations across the planet, and potentially can serve a similar role in enabling future generations’ ability to confront climate change. Western New York has previously been labeled as a climate refuge and sits in an important cross section for many ecological and climatic developments over the next 100 years. Josh Randall shares potential pathways for seed saving of important native species and cultivars that consider different aspects of phenotype, including plasticity. Growers of all types are encouraged to develop plans to save their seeds, and consider which species and cultivars they are using in their gardens.