Carbon Gardens: Part 3 - Seeds

SolarPunk Permaculture

Seeds Seeds are like eggs. Hard outer shell with a proto-life form, armoured at its core. If the character traits for seeds were not realised in the manner that they are today, who knows what sort of genetic response the embryonic stage of plants would have evolved to protect itself. Either way… I’m stoked we have seeds as they are. Super interesting little spheres, oblongs, brain-resembling embossed geometries. They are all good in my book. In fact, in every book that recounts our horticultural histories, you can be sure that seeds were as much a part of the story as plants themselves. Of course, using the egg analogy in this instance draws upon the obvious question. “What came first, the seed or the plant?” Well, I argue it's too far back to know anyway. So I tend not to bother with finding out, for sure. But, a better question I ask myself is… how do I raise my own seeds and be regenerative in the practice of doing so? Well… … The first seed a carbon gardener may want to embrace is that of grass. A simple mixed-species box can be purchased at many garden centres. They’re as cheap as chips and are easily spread recklessly across a patch of dirt. You - “Grass seeds!? Are you sure?” Me - “Yes.” I’m thinking about ground covers that want to be on-tha-grow, go, go, go, quick smart. Yes, you did just create all of this lovely soil, composted and complete with complex chains of nutrients and biodiversity you want to brag about. But, all of the grass you're about to grow wants to become soil again anyway. Ironically, you're only worried about it going to seed… The very thought of letting grass go to seed in a productive muti-stratified forest ecosystem may make some ppl implode, but if managed bio-intensively, a well-sized grass system can be the kickstart for your backyard bio-engine. Good bang for your buck too! Remember - Biomass is key in soil production. A heavy seeding of a mixed-grass crop will do 2 important things in your carbon garden. It will please the Genie who still pesters you about not having your soil covered… … annnnd it will create biomass for more soil production. This will happen relatively fast, too! ------- @mr.betteridge --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solarpunkpermaculture/message