We sometimes come across different names to designate heirloom seeds: peasant seeds, organic seeds, heirloom seeds or organic vegetable seeds… All these names actually designate peasant seeds, the sale of which is authorized to individuals. These seeds are reproducible, free of rights and come from organic farming as well as biodynamic farming. Peasant seeds go in the direction of the preservation of seed and vegetable biodiversity. Amateur gardeners, individuals, discover a list of good addresses where to buy organic peasant seeds for your vegetable garden.
Peasant seeds: how do they work?
Since 1932 and the establishment of seed production regulated by the Catalogue, the seed spectrum has been seriously threatened. The industrialization of seed activity has in fact ended up standardizing and impoverishing the supply of fruit and vegetables. Therefore, the vegetables offered on the stalls are uniform, without defects and resistant to transport. Along the way, the multinationals have undoubtedly put aside the pleasure of taste in favor of the food challenge. This is how pretty names of vegetables came out of memory and fell into oblivion: the Jerusalem artichoke, crosne, scorzonera, ground pear, Guérande carrot, etc
Fortunately, all is not lost, name of a vegetable! For millennia, seeds have crossed the ages and passed from hand to hand. And thanks to the law of June 11, 2020, seed transmission has picked up again. Individuals are in fact authorized to obtain peasant seeds from producers and market gardeners. The seed selection process obviously takes place once the fruit and vegetable harvest is complete. The seeds from the best plants are carefully selected by the seed companies. They are then stored and then sold legally to individuals for the following season. Thanks to the know-how of the peasants, varieties of fruits and vegetables have thus been able to persist andadapt to local climate.
Where to buy peasant seeds?
As an individual, you can therefore choose vegetable seeds in order to diversify your diet. Buying old seeds also contributes to the survival of varieties. Here is a non-exhaustive list of associations or groups of producers:
Choosing the right organic vegetable seeds
In the list above, some seed suppliers have a particularity. For example, the seeds of Health vegetable garden in the Gard have the ability to grow in arid conditions. Indeed, the farmer grows his fruits and vegetables with little water over several generations. As a result, the seeds of Pascal and Rachel Poot remember this particularity. Their tomatoes are also famous for growing with little water and therefore being full of flesh: a real vitamin bomb! The seeds of this couple of farmers are also acclaimed as far away as Africa for their ability to resist drought.
The Carlines Nursery offers peasant seeds suitable for cultivation in mid-mountain areas. sow offers you seeds that have grown much further north. As you will have understood, the important thing is to find the seed supplier who can best meet the needs of your garden.
How to reuse organic peasant seeds?
Once the fruits and vegetables have been harvested, don’t forget to collect the seeds. Clean and dry them thoroughly before storing them in a cloth, glass jar or paper. The important thing is that the seeds are kept dry, away from light and heat. The ideal seed storage temperature is between 5° to 10°C. You can use them next season or even in several years. Indeed, if the seeds are stored correctly, they can be stored for years.
In addition, some seed-based recipes deserve to be known. Find out, for example, how to prepare puffed pumpkin seeds Aperitif !
