Dessicant question regarding seed saving

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I have the dessicant powder used for drying flowers for craft projects. Can I put it in paper envelopes, tape them shut, and throw them in the bottom of a bucket for moisture control? Thanks!

-- Helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), June 03, 1999

Answers

I have heard of people putting it in coffee filter and tying it shut with staples, tape, or bread ties. The common amount to place in the jar is: equal to the weight of the seeds. Leave in for a few days, then remove dessicant and place seeds in freezer. Hope this is helpful, Diane

-- Diane (prepare@highlandtraders.com), June 03, 1999.

My wife and I have troubled over this issue for quite some time. We took the same dessicant decsribed above and placed a layer on the bottom of the 5 gallon container. We then placed the wheat or beans (after freezing them) in large zip lock bags squeezing out as much air as possible, and placed them in the buckets. We threw in a couple a bay leaves and sealed the buckets. I really don't know if this will work or not. We have read all about oxygen absorbers, nitrogen, diatomacious earth, etc. I guess our bottom line is: 1) they didn't use all this stuff "in the olden days" and 2) none of the Amish people we know do any of this.

-- lparks (lparks@eurekanet.com), June 03, 1999.

Another suggestion for using dessicant is to place it in do-it-yourself tea bags, the kind you buy at the health food/herb stores. They contain about a teaspoon of dessicant and can be tossed in to your 5 gallon bucket at various depths as wheat or whatever is added to absorb the moisture. Just make sure you fish them out before grinding the grain :-)

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), June 03, 1999.

Thanks everyone!

-- Helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), June 03, 1999.

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