
Threshing Beans and Peas
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Harvest pods when they are dry and brittle
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Threshing involves applying force to the dry pods in order to liberate the seeds
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You can do it by hand or stuff a pillowcase with Beans or Peas and "stomp" on it, rub it with your hands or even put in the dryer on air setting (No Heat) in a tightly sealed pillowcase
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Once the pods have been threshed, pour the seeds and chaff into a bucket
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Most of the seeds will fall to the bottom allowing you to remove lots of the chaff by hand from the top
Winnowing Beans and Peas
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Winnowing relies on the weight of the seeds and the lightness of the chaff
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You can use a stiff breeze or an electric fan
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Set the fan on top of a table and pour the seeds and chaff out in front of the fan’s breeze into another bucket
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The seeds will fall straight down while the chaff will be blown to the side. This will take several passes.
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Store seeds somewhere cool, dry and dark for the winter to plant in the spring, or cook and eat right away
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Always be sure to Save Some for the Library!!!
How to Save Lettuce Seeds
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Let your lettuce plants grow well past when you would have eaten them.
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Seed is harvested after the plant “bolts” (sends up a flower stalk), flowers, sets seed, and dries.
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Lettuce seeds are ready for harvest 2 to 3 weeks after the flowers bloom.
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Lettuce seeds are very small, and can be harvested by shaking the seed heads into a paper bag.
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Or leave the plants in the ground and harvest weekly as new seeds mature.
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Once the lettuce seed heads are almost totally dry, pull the entire plant and hang upside-down over a paper bag.
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Use a fine mesh screen to clean lettuce seeds... the screen will allow the seeds to pass but will restrict the larger chaff.
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Or rub them against a rough paper plate...The chaff will stick while the seeds fall free.
How to Save Tomato Seed
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One variety at a time, cut tomato open and squeeze the pulp, juice and seeds into a glass or plastic container
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Add some water and as it sits, the fermentation will break down the gelatinous sack that encloses the seeds.
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This may take up to 3 or 4 days.
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Stir or shake every day or two.
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After the seeds are released, the viable ones will sink to the bottom of the jar.
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Pour off or decant all the pulp and bad seeds from the top layer.
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Then pour the good seeds through a kitchen strainer and rinse well to remove any bits of tomato flesh that remain.
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Spread the seeds out to dry on a coffee filter or paper plate.
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Keep them out of direct sunlight with good air circulation.
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It is best to continue drying them for two to three weeks to be absolutely sure the seeds are dry.
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Store in a sealed plastic or glass container in a cool, dark and dry location.
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Again... Be sure to save some seeds for the library!!!