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Colorado Vault Is Fort Knox For The World's Seeds

Dave Dierig, research leader at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, stands among the ceiling-high shelves that hold the 600,000 seed packets in this cold storage vault. Grace Hood/KUNC hide caption

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Grace Hood/KUNC

The Salt

Colorado Vault Is Fort Knox For The World's Seeds

KUNC

At Colorado State University, billions of seeds and other genetic material sit inside a giant storage vault. They're kept there in case of a loss of plant or animal life on a regional or global scale. But the investigation into GMO wheat in Oregon has raised questions about security at the facility.

Colorado Vault Is Fort Knox For The World's Seeds

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Fear Of Cantaloupes And Crumpets? A 'Phobia' Rises From The Web

Seeds of fear? To most of us, cantaloupe and horn melon look like a healthy breakfast or snack. But the clusters of seeds can evoke anxiety, nervousness and even nausea for some trypophobes. Daniel M. N. Turner/NPR hide caption

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Daniel M. N. Turner/NPR

The Salt

Fear Of Cantaloupes And Crumpets? A 'Phobia' Rises From The Web

Images of holey foods, like Swiss cheese, aerated chocolate and lotus pods, are freaking out people on the Internet. Urban Dictionary has even coined a term for it: trypophobia. These photographs may make your skin crawl and stomach churn, but here's why you shouldn't panic.

How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

The seed library is a partnership between the Basalt Public Library and the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute. Seed packets encourage gardeners to write their names and take credit for their harvested seeds. Courtesy of Dylan Johns hide caption

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Courtesy of Dylan Johns

The Salt

How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

Aspen Public Radio

A small-town library in Colorado is lending more than just books. Patrons can now check out seeds and farm them. After the crops are harvested, the patrons return the seeds from the best fruits and vegetables so the library can lend them out to others.

How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

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A Seed Company That Helped Presidents And Immigrants Garden Falters

D. Landreth Seed Co. President Barbara Melera with a bunch of peanuts at her Philadelphia Flower Show booth. Max Matza for NPR hide caption

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Max Matza for NPR

The Salt

A Seed Company That Helped Presidents And Immigrants Garden Falters

The D. Landreth Seed Co. store in Philadelphia counted American presidents from George Washington to Franklin D. Roosevelt as customers. But today the company is struggling to survive as eager gardeners seek seeds elsewhere.

A Seed Company That Helped Presidents And Immigrants Garden Falters

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