From 1833 to 1853, he engaged in the culture of garden seeds.
There are about 8,000 members, many of whom collect their own garden seeds for the organization.
Many garden seeds have a long viability and can be kept for at least two years, often longer.
But this is not the only kind of information encoded in a garden seed.
The 1875 Census notes that he raised 500 pounds of garden seed.
Like many other Shaker communities, they raised and sold garden seeds.
I want to plant my garden seeds in rows, not runnels.
But think of all the fun that will be missed by not saving at least some of your own garden seed.
The raising and sale of garden seeds was perhaps the most lucrative of their early businesses.
Compost can be added to potting soil for starting garden seeds indoors.