Seedy Business: Hudson Valley organic farm produces seeds largely by hand, preserves legacy

Drying corn stalks wilt in late summer sun at the Hudson Valley Seed Library farm. Calendula flowers are past bloom and brown. Melon leaves lay crinkled by the dirt. Plants have, literally, gone to seed.

A perfect picture for an organic seed harvest.

The small business 70 miles north New York City makes seeds the old fashioned way. They are largely plucked, winnowed and packed by hand. They sell only heirloom seeds or varieties naturally pollinated by the wind, insects or birds — about 400 choices like Red Russian Kale and Thai Basil.

Essentially, the Hudson Valley Seed Library is an organic seed business cross-pollinated with a mission to preserve agricultural diversity.

Co-founder Ken Greene says they want to encourage seed saving.