SRI

SRI (the System of Rice Intensification) always marks the end of the planting season for SFS members, who are using the technique this season to save the seeds of over 18 rice varieties. Those who practice SRI reserve a few, small paddies for planting. Rice seedlings are transplanted one seedling at a time and are spaced widely, as opposed to three or four bunched together in the typical trandplanting method. SRI requires less water than typical rice production but also more attention to weeding, as well as an overall increase in labor input. But yields have been consistently high per plant and members have been able to save new seed varieties every season. For more information about it's worldwide use, SRI was recently written about this spring in The New York Times.