resources for farmers and gardeners on seeds, focusing on Alaska-specifc information
AGENCIES, ASSOCIATIONS, & GROUPS
Alaska Native Plant Society seed exchange program
The Alaska Native Plant Society sells seed of plants native to Alaska which have been collected by members during the year. Seeds can be purchased at the regular monthly meetings or by mail order. The Society is is a non-profit organization based in Anchorage and dedicated to studying and conserving Alaska native plants.
The Northern Latitude Plant Materials Center (PMC) provides testing, production, development, and distribution of materials to meet environmental requirements and promote commercial development of native species. The PMC’s mission is to develop and transfer state-of-the-art plant science technology to support the Alaskan agriculture industry. Their webiste includes several useful resources, including:
- State of Alaska Seed Regulations, Alaska Administrative Code Title 11, Chapter 34 (PDF) (html)
- Directory of Native Plant Sources
- Rural Village Seed Production Project (revegetation seed)
Alaska Seed Growers Association
This association provides inspection services for grains, grasses, and seed potatoes. Their website is sorely out of date, but they may be contacted through Pat Mulligan, PO Box 2029, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 745-4004.
Arctic & Subarctic Plant Gene Bank, Palmer, Alaska
The Alaska Agricultural Research Service is closing and will be available as a resource for Alaskans interested in seed or germ plasm for only a short time more; the Gene Bank in Palmer is transferring its collections to the Agricultural & Forestry Experiment Station’s Plant Materials Center, the USDA-ARS Repository in Corvallis, Oregon, and other locations. The rhubarb collection has reverted to the ARS facility in Pullman, Washington. All ARS plant accessions available to the public can be located through the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm page at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/index.html. The staff of the Gene Bank, Dan Barney and Nancy Robertson, are still on site for the time being, and may be contacted there: 907.745.4840. Note that most of the accessions are available to researchers only.
SEED-SAVING RESOURCES & PUBLICATIONS
(see also our book and movie list)
- Drying, Cleaning, and Storing Prairie Seed (PDF): Tallgrass Prairie Center
- Handbook of seed technology for gene banks, v. II: Biodiversity International
- Procedures for Handling Seeds in Gene Banks: Biodiversity International
- Seed Saver’s Exchange: educational resources
- Seed saving tips: West Virginia University Extension Service
- Saving seed from the garden: general overview from the University of Illinois
- Caring for small fruit seeds (PDF ARS Small Fruits for Alaska)