Written by Casey O'Leary of Earthly Delights Farm
For me, this variety truly embodies an “Urban Community-Grown Seed.” Literally hundreds of hands have touched these seeds. It started with the premise that if we shared their abundance with our community rather than keeping and processing all of the seeds on-farm ourselves, the benefits would far outweigh the risks of lost or damaged seeds, or seeds that were mixed up with other varieties as the fruits made their way through people’s kitchens, potlucks, and lives.
So, for over 10 years, we shared the fruits of these watermelons with our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members, with the caveat that they had to clean and return the seeds to us after they ate the fruits. Attendees at farm events were given watermelon slices and cups to catch their seeds while they snacked. We shared them with construction workers on a nearby jobsite and with people watching a seed movie projected on the wall of a downtown building.
And they worked their magic, like seeds always do. Through their participation, hundreds of people re-engaged with the ancient practice of seed saving. Kids accustomed to seedless watermelons experienced the delight of spitting watermelon seeds for the first time. Busy urban people who spend lots of time in indoor offices remembered what it is like to eat with intention and to give back to the plants that feed them to continue the cycle anew. Fruit by fruit, the seeds came back to us in improvised packets. Over the years, they took on the wily personality of the collective—messy at times but beautiful in its deliberate and multi-faceted interconnection. They reoriented us collectively to remember the centuries-long chain of other people who have saved and shared them amidst great joys and immense challenges, and to commit to continuing that chain of sharing for years and years to come.
As you plant and harvest these fruits yourself, you are inducted into the community of hands who have held them and kept them safe. Save some seeds from your favorite fruits and share them with your neighbors!
Give Earthly Delights Watermelon a try in your garden this year!
