For thousands of years, farmers and gardeners selected the cream of their crops from which to save seed for future sowing. Then starting in the 18th century, picking up speed in the 19th and by the 20th, the seed trade industry very nearly replaced this age-old, common sense practice.

Thankfully, in the later part of the 20th century, advocates for saving one's own garden seed began raising awareness. Really good books were written to make up for the knowledge that was no longer being handed down from the previous generation, and whole organizations were established to promote seed saving.

I suspect that many folks here at All Things Plants save seeds from their gardens (as well as from friends, neighbors, strangers and public gardens :)) and would love to "wear" a seed saver's badge.

I love the idea of a seed saver badge! I would purchase one.

and we'll do it, but what should it look like? What kind of image can represent saving seeds?

dave said: but what should it look like? What kind of image can represent saving seeds?

LOL, I could get my husband to take a picture of me walking around the garden picking seeds and stuffing them in my pockets.

Maybe a bulging bag, something like this one?
(This was some clip art I came across, so don't know if we could use this actual image)

Maybe a hand with seeds in it?

How about a little basket with packets of seeds?

Or a bank vault.

I like the Seed Savers hands pouring seeds, not to copy them but something along those lines.

How about something like a maple key, or a dandelion parachute, or a packet with seeds pouring into it, or a pod of some kind (e.g. lily or daylily), or a bean pod with beans in it, or just a little group of dots to represent the seeds.

On the topic of microbadges, how come one can be a dog or cat lover
but you have to keep horses? (Just looking to spend some acorns that kind people have given me).

I like jvdubb and seedfork's ideas . . . just my 2 cents.

Seedfork said:I like the Seed Savers hands pouring seeds, not to copy them but something along those lines.

If you put in the description something like "seed saver/collector" rather than just "seed saver", it would be more inclusive. Then it would also encompass those who collect seed from the wild or or places other than their own gardens.

Hi @Leftwood . . . I see what you are saying. Being a seed saver is most definitely not limited to ones own garden. Conscientious wild crafting can be a form of seed saving. Although, I was thinking more about recognizing the intentional gardening practice of being a seed saver.

In my mind, being a seed "collector" is certainly not excluded from also being a seed saver (one who raises plants and saves seeds for future planting), but not all collectors are seed savers. Does that make sense?

Mike

I like the simplicity of the bag of seeds as suggested by woofie.

Edited because I can't spell.

Leftwood said:If you put in the description something like "seed saver/collector" rather than just "seed saver", it would be more inclusive.

MikeD said:Hi @Leftwood . . . I see what you are saying. Being a seed saver is most definitely not limited to ones own garden. Conscientious wild crafting can be a form of seed saving.

if you were one that travels hundreds of miles for a couple species' seed, or many thousands of miles annually, you might understand why being named the same as one who grows heirloom beans (for example) and walks out the door to pick them for seed saving is different. There is a lot more to it than that in both scenarios, and I don't mean to belittle either method. They are just not the same: like apples and oranges, they are both fruit, but bite into them and you will know they are not the same.

Let's not make this a debate. I kept my original comment brief, because I did't want to make a big thing about this. If it doesn't happen, I'm fine with that. It was just a suggestion.

But the bag should say ss, right @green? I like any of the above ideas, and think it would be a nice microbadge.

How about a 'Seed Head' much like the Tomato Head-- that can encompass all the seed freaks (beyond buying a pack of seeds and starting them) who both save and/or collect seeds?

dirtdorphins said:How about a 'Seed Head' much like the Tomato Head-- that can encompass all the seed freaks (beyond buying a pack of seeds and starting them) who both save and/or collect seeds?

I LOVE this idea!

Leftwood said: Let's not make this a debate. I kept my original comment brief, because I did't want to make a big thing about this. If it doesn't happen, I'm fine with that. It was just a suggestion.

Same here . . . This is for fun and to build communities . . . as I said, I see your point.

dirtdorphins said:How about a 'Seed Head' much like the Tomato Head-- that can encompass all the seed freaks (beyond buying a pack of seeds and starting them) who both save and/or collect seeds?

Good idea!