Earning Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badges

Garden Gate

5. Heirlooms Forever!

Beginner Level

• As you plan your garden in the spring, look over heirloom varieties of seeds.
• Read the book Gardening with Heirloom Seeds by Lynn Coulter. (The book required for this badge is available on loan from MaryJanesFarm; contact library@maryjanesfarm.org.)
• Replace 5% of your plantings with heirloom varieties.

Intermediate Level

• Learn how to save seeds.
• Save the seeds of your heirloom plantings.
• Plant at least 25% of your garden to heirloom varieties.

Expert Level

• Continue to save the seeds of your heirloom varieties and plant them in your garden.
• Plant 50% heirloom varieties.
• Offer your excess saved seeds to friends, relatives and other farmgirls. Explain the need behind saving the heirloom varieties that you have chosen.

January, 2008 Edition