Ralph Waldo Emerson put it perfectly when he said “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”
There’s nothing more poetic than the story of the seed to our plate. Seeds have single handedly ushered us into modern civilization, a story that has been forgotten and overlooked as we so easily make our morning coffee and eat our avocado toast. The humble seed shapes our lives more than anything else on earth, besides the sun!
We are reminded to never underestimate the power of a seed, or a kernel, a pip, pulse, nut, bulb, corm, tuber, or rhizome for that matter! Throughout human history seeds have fueled uprisings, war, revolutions and even evolution itself.
Over the years Team SE has shared our collective experience and growing knowledge and create a small library of seed posts to inspire and guide you to growing your own
From a single seed new biomes were born, ecosystems flourished and as we unlocked the energy within seeds civilizations rose and fell. It is the tale of epic adventures, romance, war and betrayal.
Our world has been woven with seeds since the beginning of our existence. They are the basis of our diets, of our lifestyles and economies, as well as the foundation of life in the wild: more than 90 percent of our flora are now seed bearing plants. The success of the seed is one that has never been matched, and for the first time in history we are seeing our seed biodiversity being threatened, as we bite the hand that feeds us.
We find great responsibility and honor in growing and saving seeds. This reciprocal relationship brings us great peace and joy as our hands touch the earth and tend to our gardens, as we cultivate food for our families and communities.
Beyond the pleasures that come from the smell of harvesting a fresh tomato and the unmatched taste of basil still pulsing with life, we are sustaining and evolving a future for the generations to come. Full of diversity, color, flavor and nourishment. A future with more potential and poetry than our past. A future we write together, every time we plant a seed.
A seed is the embryonic stage of a flowering plant or tree. It consists of three parts: embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. This is where the flowering plant or tree lifecycle begins, and also where it ends. We understand the importance of preserving seeds that have fed generations and offered pollinators abundance too! We are proud to offer heirloom seeds in our curated collection of heirloom, open pollinated, and organic seeds.
Let's focus on one seed (a nut) just for fun to learn the abundant benefits it offers:
The Persian Walnut
Not just the brain health nut! For thousands of years humans have cultivated the walnut tree for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Studies of the walnut shell and the septum membrane are bursting with good news.
The walnut septum, the thin woody partition between the two halves of the walnut kernel is something that often gets tossed into the compost or garbage. Not anymore! You can find it by breaking the shell and separating the kernel halves. The walnut septum is shaped like a bat, which is admittedly why I initially fell in love with it, long before I learned the valuable medicinal properties!
It turns out this membrane is a valuable source of polyphenols. Polyphenols are rich in antioxidant activities which prevent or even reverse damage in your cells. This bio activity increases protection against developing disease and can even help slow the aging process. Let’s brew some walnut kernel septum tea!
To make the tea simply add walnut septum pieces to a pot of water and cover, bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy on its own, with raw honey, or you can use the walnut tea water as the base of your morning coffee or chai to add a sweet, nutty, healthy boost!
There are hundreds of incredible resources out there, but if we had to recommend just one book: The Triumph of Seeds by Thor Hanson is an incredible read.
Wishing you abundance as you explore these growing practices.
In good tilth,
Jess & Karina