Learn the Art and Science of Seed Saving from the South Sound Seed Stewards – new classes begin Jan. 14, 2008.

            The Sound Sound Seed Stewards (aka S4) offer a year-long curriculum of programs pertaining to general garden interest plus 9 classes on the art and science of seed saving.

            Aimed at preserving our seed heritage and teaching people how to grow and save their own seed, the group’s Mission Statement is: Encouraging Community Independence and Self-Reliance Through Producing and Sharing Locally Adapted Heirloom Seeds. Founded in 1994, S4 became a Washington non-profit organization in 1999.

            The primary purpose is to teach how to save vegetable seeds, not how to grow the vegetable. For those who need information on the basics of gardening, there are members who can help.

            It is not necessary to be an experienced gardener to be a seed saver. Many have gardened for years but never saved a seed. S4’s goal is to impart the knowledge to grow, harvest and preserve a true-to-type seed, a seed that year after year continues to produce the original vegetable.

            Programs for 2008 include selecting seed, fruit trees of the Northwest, soils, winter gardening, food preservation, greenhouse growing and films on gardening topics. The seed science classes include basic botany, seed classification, record keeping, starting seed indoors and outdoors, transplanting, seed structure, cover crops, crop rotation, seed harvesting, processing and storage.

            The group meets the second Monday of every month at Gordon’s Grange. July’s meeting is a summer potluck and December’s meeting is a Christmas potluck and raffle.

            Meetings start promptly at 7:00 p.m. with the program running until 8:00. After a 30 minute coffee/tea/snack breakand time for mini-classes, the one hour seed class begins at 8:30.

            Membership for new members:

Student Membership (for new members who wish to obtain a S4 certificate of class completion, which bestows voting membership the following year) -- $55 for the year; includes a copy of the group’s text book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth. Students must attend 7 of the 9 classes to achieve certification.

            Supporting Membership (for new members not desiring a training certificate) -- $35 for the year with no attendance requirement.

            Class space is limited. An e-mail of intent to join in January will hold a place. S4@rainierconnect.com