Seed Stratifying: one method

There are many different methods to stratifying seeds.  Here is what works well for me for the seeds we grow at Prairie Moon: First, I have my dry  sand, water, plastic bag and a label: I pour some sand into the bag and pour a little bit of water – just enough to barely moisten [...]

Fall Seed Sowing

Lately we have been crazy-busy with lots of different tasks like harvesting seeds, helping Humphrey finish the new greenhouse and cleaning seeds that are needed immediately. Finally I was able to do some work in the garden, and I planted some seeds for next year. Here is my process: I loosen the dirt by tilling [...]

Most Wanted: Carex pensylvanica – Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica is more commonly known as Pennsylvania Sedge but we call it ‘Common Oak Sedge’. It is a highly desirable sedge because of its low stature and tendency to spread rapidly and flop over, thereby eventually resembling a lawn.  It can grow in full sun to full shade in medium to dry soils.  It [...]

Seed Drying Techniques for Anyone

Today is October 9th and we already have collected seeds from a lot of the species around the farm.  Before we clean the seed, it needs to dry out, especially because we had a lot of rain the last few weeks, during the height of the collection season. From these photos, you’ll see that our [...]

September Seed Harvest: Culver’s Root

The past few weeks we have been harvesting seeds of many different species.  A lot of species we collect by hand using (grass) hooks; some people may prefer to use pruning shears.  Harvesting seeds by hand, instead of by machine, is the best way to avoid also harvesting weeds. The hooks are very sharp so [...]