Eli Whitney Museum

Plants produce seeds. Seeds produce plants. All natural.

But some would say that civilization beings when people begin to select and encourage seeds. For thousands of years, we have changed the shapes, and colors and taste of our world by artful selection of seeds with traits we admire. Some choices have not been so artful. By accident, we have encouraged plants that invaded and disrupted systems where they didn't belong.

Learn the art of seeds. Weather permitting, we will collect seeds from the wild flowers along our trails. Learn the basic types of seeds. Learn to recycle newspaper into starter pots. Build a small cold frame to protect your seeds germinating in the still-cool days of early spring. Start plants that will enrich any yard. Fill a notebook with drawings of the plants we are learning to encourage.

Construct seed bombs: gifts for fiends and the environment because diversity is good.

Alexis Brown manages the Museum's grounds. In her gardening practice, she encourages native, sustainable cultivation.