The Seed Savers' Handbook

The Seed Savers' Handbook is a complete reference for growing, preparing and conserving 117 traditional varieties of food plants. Written especially for Australian and New Zealand conditions in 1993 by Michel and Jude Fanton, founders of The Seed Savers' Network. 30,000 of the original edition sold with another 30,000 copies of translations and adaptations sold around the world.

Browse the Seed Savers Handbook online

TRANSLATION ON THIS SITE: There is also a Macedonian/Bulgarian version online. With the Japanese and Italian coming soon.

You can own a copy of the full version. Credit card payments are securely processed by Paypal.

The Seed Savers' Handbook has 180 pages with stunning original illustrations. Translations into Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Khmer and Bulgarian. 45,000 sold worldwide.

View the Handbook Contents List

Order the Handbook on-line now.

Reviews

Megg Miller, editor of Grass Roots:
"Many people care passionately about the environment and conserving it for future generations. An integral part of this is concern for the demise of old-fashioned varieties of useful plants and vegetables. But philosophical thought and rhetoric alone cannot turn the tide - the timely publication of this informative and practical book will do much to guide ordinary people to becoming caretakers of our diverse seed heritage."

Michael Boddy, editor of Kitchen Talk Newsletter:
"Our best recommendation for this book is that it will help you strengthen the wholesome connection between soil, plant and self, by showing you how to select and reproduce the seeds that best respond to the region in which you live. Scale is not important here. At whatever level you wish to work - from the single pot on the window-sill to a paddock full of earthly delights - you will find The Seed Savers' Handbook waiting for you, to tell you things you need to know."

Bill Mollison, founder of Permaculture and recipient of the Australian Achiever Award 1993, says in the book's preface:
"I believe this book to be essential for all caring farmer, gardeners, cooks and parents, and I trust that it will speed our return to good nutrition and a healthy society."

Derek Cooper, Presenter of Radio 4 in London UK.

"if you cherish your greens devour this splendid book designed to save our shrinking vegetable heritage."

Alan Gear-chief exectutive, Henry Doubleday Research Association  UK (HDRA) "the definite work on vegetable seed saving, combines passion and practicality - every gardener should read this".

Contents

PART ONE - The Issue

The Seed Savers'Network

• Why Collect

• Beginnings

• Seed Savers at Work

Background to Biodiversity

• Seed Homelands

• Life in a Freezer

• Green Non-revolution

• Anyone for Hybrids?

• Designer Genes

PART TWO - The Practicalities

What Seeds to Save

• A Variety of Sources

• Plants Move

• Seeds Adapt

• Regional Cooking

Purity and Production

• Pollination

• Keeping them Pure

• Annual, Biennial, Perennial

Selecting and Collecting

• Criteria for Selection

• How Many to Select

• When to Collect

After the Seed Harvest

• Cleaning

• Drying

• Diseases

• Storing

• Germination

Tests Planting and Planning

• Seed Starting

• Rules of Thumb for Planting

• Planning a Seed Garden

• Principles of Practical Permaculture

A Special Family - Cucurbits

• Characteristics

• Hand Pollination

• Planting the Seeds

PART THREE - The Plants

How to save seeds or propagate by cuttings, tubers or roots, on the following 117 vegetables, culinary herbs and flowers. Also notes on cultivation, usage, origins and the meaning of the botanical name of each plant. Traditional varieties are described so that you can look out for them.

Amaranth

Artichoke

Asparagus

Basella

Basil

Bean

Beetroot

Bitter Gourd

Borage

Broad Bean

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Calendula

Cape Gooseberry

Capsicum & Chilli

Cardoon

Carrot

Cassava

Cauliflower

Celeriac

Celery

Celtuce

Chervil

Chicory

Chilacayote

Chinese Cabbage

Chives

Choko

Collard

Coriander

Corn

Corn Salad

Cowpea

Cucumber

Dandelion

Dill

Eggplant

Endive

Eschallot

Fennel

Garland Chrysanthemum

Garlic

Garlic Chives

Gourd

Gramma

Guada Bean

Hibiscus Spinach

Hyacinth Bean

Jerusalem Artichoke

Kale

Kohlrabi

Korilla

Leek

Lettuce

Lima Bean

Luffa

Marigold

Marjoram

Mint

Mitsuba

Mizuna

Mustard

Mustard Greens

Nasturtium

New Zealand Spinach

Oca

Okra

Onion

Oregano

Oriental Cooking Melon

Pansy & Violet

Parsley

Parsnip

Pea

Peanut

Peruvian Parsnip

Poppy

Potato

Pumpkin

Queensland Arrowroot

Radish

Rhubarb

Rocket

Rockmelon

Rosella

Rosemary

Runner Bean

Sage

Salad Burnet

Salsify

Silver Beet

Snake Bean

Sorrel

Soya Bean

Spinach

Spring Onion

Squash

Sunflower

Sweet Potato

Taro

Tarragon

Thyme

Tomato

Tree Onion

Tumeric

Turnip

Water Chestnut

Water Spinach

Watercress

Watermelon

Wax Gourd

Winged Bean

Yam

Yam Bean

Order the Handbook on-line now.