Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 38
GEORGIA Gardens
By Helen Newling Lawson
Seeds with a history
The seed-saving movement
takes gardeners back to basics
COURTESY UNIVERSI
OF NORTH GEORGI TY
A
ISTOCK.COM / CHRISTIAN MEYER DESIGN
A
growing number of visitors are coming to
the Hickory Flat Library in Canton with no
intention of checking out a book. They are
there to borrow from the seed library.
This community resource, a project of the Cherokee County Master Gardeners, localizes the work of
national seed-saving organizations like Iowa-based
Seed Savers Exchange to preserve and prolong the
legacy of heirloom vegetables.
Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated-meaning that their seeds will produce plants with most of
the characteristics of the parent plant.
The idea of exchanging heirloom seeds has
proven so popular that two more seed libraries have
opened recently in Cherokee County-at the Rose
Creek Public Library in Woodstock and the Ball
Ground Public Library in Ball Ground. These new
seed-sharing programs join others hosted at libraries
throughout the state, including the Gilmer County
Library in Ellijay, the Jefferson Public Library in Athens and the Perry Branch Library in Perry.
Continued on page 40
38
Georgia Magazine
May 2020
COURTESY HICKOR
A basic principle of libraries is that you return
what you check out. Similarly, many seed libraries
ask participants to grow their plants to maturity,
collect new seeds and donate them back to the
collection.
Through projects like these, tiny seeds grow into
bigger discussions about sustainability, heritage,
conservation and biodiversity. But for families that
have handed seeds down for generations, the conversation is much more personal.
Becky Griffin of Holly Springs feared she would
be the last of her family to grow the Jonah bean,
a variety that can be traced back at least as far as
her great-great-grandmother. Like many heirloom
varieties, Griffin's bean is better-tasting and better
adapted to the local climate than modern versions
bred for mass production and long-distance
shipping.
Y FLAT LIBRARY
From tiny seeds, big programs grow
Top: The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Center for Appalachian Studies preserves the area's heirloom seeds and oral history through the Saving Appalachian
Gardens and Stories (SAGAS) project. UNG students Merritt Hammock (left) and
Kennedi Horn harvest lettuce in the SAGAS demonstration garden's greenhouse.
Above: From left, Librarian Rhonda Broome, Master Gardener Gerald Phillips,
Cherokee County Extension agent Josh Fuder, Librarian Deborah Johnson and
Master Gardeners Lynn Knotts and Susan Franklin show off the new seed library
at Canton's Hickory Flat Library.
Georgia Magazine - May 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2020
Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 4
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 5
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 6
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 7
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 8
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 9
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 10
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 11
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 12
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 13
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 14
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 15
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 16
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 17
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 18
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 19
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 20
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 21
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 22
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 23
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 24
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 25
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 26
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 27
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 28
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 29
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 30
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 31
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 32
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 33
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 34
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 35
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 36
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 37
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 38
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 39
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 40
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 41
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 42
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 43
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 44
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 45
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 46
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Cover3
Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/libertynotes_billofrights
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_realitycheck
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200910
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com