A Humble Seed Bank at the Farm

Aamanakku (Castor) seeds removed from their shell
Subbu said this is selling at 100/- kg
and was carefully removing. I helped him till completion

It was a long standing requirement.  To have a safe place to keep the seeds.  Till now the seeds collected through various sources were just kept in its own cover.  News paper wrapped,  polythene covers, carry bags and so on.

When in the farm, Kandan kept repeatedly saying that rats are eating the seeds. Yes earlier i had lost country variety paddy seeds - Mappillai Samba which I got it couriered from another friend.  Similarly many of the seeds that I had given to Subbu had been lost to Rats because it was not kept safely.

At the shop stuffing the mud pots with paper.

That triggered me to think and immediately execute a plan.  Just went to the market brought mud pots of two different sizes. Normally no one would go there. The shop is not so attractive. But as you have a close loop you can see they are just samples. The mud pots and stock is behind the shop in dark room dusty and dungeon.  You wade through them to select pots of your liking.

One small and another big.  Around 15 of them, got it packed (wrapped in news paper) and brought them safely to the farm in Autorikshaw.  Now my seeds are safe. Each of the container has a lid also. Rats cannot open. Because it is mud, there will be required moisture and air circulation. 

My finished Seed Bank.  These pots will be kept inside a room for the time being. I need
to make a shelf later.  The ginger at the far left is fresh one brought from Karnataka
enroute my vacation. I am sure Subbu will waste it. But we cannot preserve this. Hope
he will nurture a few atleast.

 Most of the seeds that we collected were small in quantity. Few in large quantity. hence a mixture of size.  Works well.  Need to make a stand as next step. The stand should support the unstable pots with round bottoms.

So goes development......