In a recent youtube video by MIgardener, Luke talks about the importance of seed biodiversity and growing your own seeds, while planting onions. When your onions begin to go soft, don’t throw them away! When the onions grow soft, the core of the onion releases enzymes, and often times they’ll begin to sprout green tops, and roots. MIgardener takes some of his onions and plants them loosely in soil. Eventually, they’ll take root and the green tops will grow to produce seed heads.
While planting his onions, Luke explains the importance of seed saving to both cut seed costs, and preserve biodiversity in seeds. Some scientists have reported that we have lost more than 90% of our seed variety. This is largely due to farm commercialization. Heirloom seeds are not as widely used as they once were, because people have stopped growing their own seeds and alternatively, rely on seed companies. Every year we lose more variety, and many more seeds become endangered.