seeds

Nature – The Tale of Two Seeds

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Last June, I planted a few sunflower seeds in the mulch in front of our house, just as an experiment, to see if they would grow there. I wanted giant, tall sunflowers to grow in front of our porch windows. I waited and waited all summer, and then September came, but no sunflowers. My experiment failed as did my vision of bright cheerful sunflowers that I thought would grow out of the mulch.

But in a short time, I was astounded to see where I planted sunflowers something else was growing. There were four of them and as I looked closer, I could see that they each had bright lime green needles sticking out of its small central stalk. These four plants seemed to be growing in the very spots where I thought I had planted the sunflowers. The plants were only about an inch in height, if that, but so inspiringly beautiful that instead of being further disappointed that my sunflowers hadn’t grown, I was totally delighted to see these tiny green things, whatever they were. I was determined to identify them right away. Beyond all reason, I was still hoping they were sunflowers!

I immediately went next door to visit my new neighbor, who is also a gardener. She came to inspect these new little wonders and I was astounded to hear her say, “These are fir trees!” She said the seeds could have flown from somewhere into the mulch, or a bird could have brought them (and planted them?). Mighty fir trees. How did this happen? I was truly perplexed. Could a bird have eaten the sunflower seed and planted a fir tree instead? She further told me if I did not want the foundation to our front porch ruined, that I must kill these tiny fir trees or transplant them as they will grow several feet tall. I did a little investigation on the internet and learned that fir trees can grow from 2 to about 9 feet and are basically shaped like Christmas trees.

I wondered, could it be that these little fir trees grew in the same space as I was hoping to see sunflowers grow to remind me of what great things God has planned for us, things far beyond our imagination—from this life to the next—things that will continually surprise and amaze us in eternity. We will experience the surprises, the joy, and bliss that He has planned for us from the foundation of the world.

We are now waiting in earnest expectation of the things He has prepared for us. Like the wondrous surprise of fir trees, God has things to show us in heaven that will defy anything we can think or hope for in this life. With determined effort on our part, and with God’s help and guidance, we can all be there to experience life in the heavenly realm. Continual adoration and worship of our Heavenly Father will be what no words can express here. All afflictions we suffer here will be forever ended. Not only will there be no more pain and suffering, but we will not even remember how these things felt.

My friends, let us get ready to see Jesus. Find someone today who wants to know the good news, and help them to get ready, too, because we know with certainty that Jesus is coming soon. Whether alive or in the grave when He comes, we can be ready to meet Jesus with the joy and anticipation of life never ending.

As for the fir trees, I planted them on our property line and have been watching them grow into what they should be, reminding me to grow into what I should be as I prepare for my heavenly home.

Nature Nugget – Seed Dispersal Methods

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An important function of seeds is dispersal, a method of establishing new plants in suitable places away from the parent plant so as to avoid competition with it. There are three main methods of seed dispersal: hitchhiking with animals and humans, drifting on ocean or fresh water, and being carried by the wind.

Some common hitchhiking seeds include the cocklebur and the seeds of the burdock plant which attach like Velcro to fur and clothing. Other hitchhikers go by such names as beggar-ticks, sand-burs, stick-tights, and grappling-hooks. Some seeds hitchhike on the inside of animals and humans by being eaten and passed unharmed through their digestive tracts and finally being deposited on the outside with fertilizer a day or two later. A good example of this is the persimmon seed which is commonly seen in the droppings of raccoons and opossums. Some seeds even require the scarification they receive when passing through the gizzard of birds, before they will germinate and grow. An example of this is the tough seeds of the American lotus, a type of lily pad, which is eaten by waterfowl and carried from one lake to another. The seed coat of this plant is so tough that it actually has to be eaten several times before it is scarified enough to germinate.

Drift seeds can drift on ocean currents for thousands of miles before being deposited on the shores of a distant continent or remote tropical island. Their thick shells protect them from saltwater, allowing them to survive months and even years at sea. Some common drift seeds are the coconut, nickernut, sea bean, sea heart, box fruit, and beach morning glory. The acorn of the burr oak is an example of a freshwater drift seed. A thick, corky cap covers most of the acorn, which gives it good flotation. Rising floodwaters carry it downstream and across floodplains to be deposited when the waters recede. Back currents on the floodplain can even carry it upstream from the parent tree.

Hundreds of seed species in many plant families use the remarkable method of wind dispersal, including many we know as weeds. A lot of weedy composites, such as the European dandelion, have worldwide distributions, because their seeds can be carried vast distances by the wind. Some adaptations for the wind dispersal method include seeds that resemble parachutes, helicopters, and gliders. Parachute type seeds have a plumose crown of hairs, some shaped like an umbrella, above the slender seeds. They are so fragile that they can become airborne with the slightest breeze and can literally soar over mountains. Common examples of this method of seed dispersal include salsify, dandelions, milkweeds, thistles, and many types of sunflowers. Helicopter type seeds have a single, rigid wing at one end. The wing has a slight pitch, causing the seed to spin as it falls. Depending on height above ground and wind velocity, helicopter seeds can be carried a considerable distance. Common examples of plants with helicopter seeds are maples, ashes, pines, spruces, firs, and hemlocks. Glider type seeds have two papery lateral wings that resemble an airplane. When released from the tree they sail through the air like a glider. An excellent example of this method is the seed of the tropical Asian climbing gourd. The seed has a five-inch wingspan that resembles a “flying wing” aircraft, such as the Stealth Bomber, and glides through the air of the rain forest in wide circles.

Just as these seeds are carried and dispersed all over by wind, water, and hitchhiking, so should the gospel seed be dispersed and scattered all over the world by Christ’s followers. “Present truth should be scattered among the people like the leaves of autumn.” Evangelism, 36. “Now is the time to sow the gospel seed. . . . We have no time to lose.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 250.

David Arbour writes from his home in DeQueen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Children’s Story – Sowing Seeds

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It is the beginning of a new year. Many people make resolutions that they hope will make a difference in their lives. Unfortunately, most of them are not fulfilled. This year why not resolve to protect your heart from the enemy.

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

Early Sunday morning, Dr. Reed called his children to come out into the garden for a seed-planting game. They selected a plot of ground where they had planned to sow winter rye for the chickens.

“We will use only a small part of this good ground for our game,” announced Daddy Reed, as he set a few stakes to mark off a small corner of the plot. Then he took from his pocket three envelopes. Handing one to Harold, he said, “Son, you may take this dock seed and scatter it as evenly as you can over this corner of the plot.”

Harold objected. “Why, daddy, why plant dock seed? We’ll have an awful time pulling up the plants when they once get started.”

“It’s part of the game,” said the doctor, handing another envelope to Linda. “You may plant this hemlock weed seed.”

“Hemlock!” exclaimed Linda in surprise. “Isn’t that a poisonous plant?” She could scarcely believe her ears when daddy replied, “Yes, it is very poisonous, but this is only a game; we’re just playing it for fun. So scatter the seed over the ground.” Then he gave Betty Lou and Eddie some dandelion seed.

“Ready! Now plant!” came the orders; “scatter your seeds carefully.”

Harold looked at his father as if to ask, “Do you really mean for us to do this foolish thing?” The only response to his questioning look was, “Go ahead and plant the seed!”

Slowly, hesitatingly, the children began to drop the seeds.

“Our seeds are flying away,” exclaimed Eddie. He and Betty Lou ran here and there trying to catch the fluffy things, but the breeze carried them off. Only a few of the dandelion seeds reached the damp ground, which held them fast.

“Now, children, you have sown the seed. The game is to see how many of these seeds you can find and put back into the envelopes.”

“Oh, no!” objected all the children.

Then daddy went on to say, “There is another kind of seed that we are planting every day in the gardens of our hearts. Either we are helping Jesus plant good seed, or we are helping the evil one plant bad seed. Satan has many people working for him, helping scatter bad seeds in the minds of boys and girls, where they will grow into poisonous plants.

“The men who print these books and papers telling about the foolish or wicked things that people can do, and the naughty tricks of children, illustrating their stories with ugly pictures, are helpers of Satan. They try to make these bad things appear as funny as they can so those who read them will think it smart to do the same kinds of things themselves. Other helpers of Satan pile these books on the newsstands where young people will be tempted to spend their nickels and dimes for them. Others make up nonsense pages which go into the newspapers for the entertainment of boys and girls.

“Some of these books and papers are silly. They are like the dandelion seeds that cover the ground with useless plants and keep good seeds from finding a place to grow. They fill the mind with foolishness, so there is little room for the good thoughts which make life beautiful.

“Some are like the dock seeds, which grow big, ugly roots that are hard to pull up. They leave bad pictures in the minds, which are almost impossible to forget.

“But the very worst of all these worthless books are the ones that tell of wicked deeds, like shooting, and stealing, and other sinful things. These bad books are like the poisonous hemlock. They fill the mind with thoughts of sin and crime.

“Now, children, I hope that you will finish this seed planting game and gather up as many of these seeds as you can so they will not spoil our garden. Remember, every one you pick up now will save hard work digging out weeds later on. You may put the seeds back into their envelopes as you gather them up.

“Put the dandelion seed into this envelope marked The Funnies. The dock-weed seed goes into this one marked The Uglies. And this one, for the hemlock seed, I have marked The Crimies.”

The children objected even to trying to find the tiny things, but daddy insisted that they make the effort. An hour later they came into the house tired and discouraged.

“We’ve lost the game,” Harold had to admit, as he handed the almost empty envelopes to his father.

“The seeds are so small we can’t find them, and the dandelion seeds all flew away,” Eddie complained.

“The only thing we can do now is to dig the weeds out early in the spring before they get big,” Harold concluded.

Daddy looked serious as he said, “It will be a hard task to dig out the weeds you planted today in your garden, but not nearly as hard as it would be to uproot the weeds of sin in your lives, if you should be foolish enough to let their seeds into your minds.”

The children all agreed that they would do their very best to keep the bad seeds out, and to sow only good seeds, that would bear beautiful flowers and precious fruit for Jesus.

Happy Home Stories by Ella M. Robinson, Teach Services, Inc.

Recipe – Seed Recipes

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RECIPES
Chia seeds As Pudding: These mild seeds expand when wet. Fill a jar with 1 cup soy milk, 3 tablespoons agave syrup, 1/4 cup seeds, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for flavor), and a pinch of salt. Cover, and shake; chill for 20 minutes. Serve cold with fruit or nuts.
Flax seeds On Oatmeal: Sprinkle ground flaxseed (which comes packaged this way or grind in electric grinder) onto oatmeal with honey.
Hemp seeds In Pesto: Hemp seeds taste like potent pine nuts, so they are great in a pesto. Puree a handful of the seeds with garlic, grated vegan Parmesan, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and arugula in a food processor.
Pumpkin seeds On Toast: Cover a slice of toast with mashed avocado, then add a sprinkling of sea salt and the seeds. Do not toast the seeds; this reduces their nutritional content.
Sesame seeds On Tofu: Marinate tofu slices in a soy-honey sauce, then coat with seeds. Bake or fry in a nonstick pan until the seeds form a crispy crust (which intensifies their nutty flavor). Frozen tofu, thawed, works best.
Sunflower seeds With Spices: Mix 1/2 cup of these sweet, buttery seeds with a pinch each of salt, cumin, chili powder, and allspice or nutmeg. Dry-roast in a pan over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Toss over guacamole, tacos or salads.

 

 

Food – Seeds

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“The Lord expects us to work in order that we may obtain food. He does not propose that we shall gather the harvest unless we break the sod, till the soil, and cultivate the produce. Then God sends the rain and the sunshine and the clouds to cause vegetation to flourish. God works, and man cooperates with God. Then there is seed time and harvest.

“God has caused to grow out of the ground herbs for the use of man and if we understand the nature of these roots and herbs, and make a right use of them, there would not be a necessity of running for the doctor so frequently, and people would be in much better health than they are today.” The Place of Herbs in Rational Therapy, 144.

Recipes
Chia seeds As Pudding: These mild seeds expand when wet. Fill a jar with 1 cup soy milk, 3 tablespoons agave syrup, 1/4 cup seeds, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for flavor), and a pinch of salt. Cover, and shake; chill for 20 minutes. Serve cold with fruit or nuts.
Flax seeds On Oatmeal: Sprinkle ground flaxseed (which comes packaged this way or grind in electric grinder) onto oatmeal with honey.
Hemp seeds In Pesto: Hemp seeds taste like potent pine nuts, so they are great in a pesto. Puree a handful of the seeds with garlic, grated vegan Parmesan, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and arugula in a food processor.
Pumpkin seeds On Toast: Cover a slice of toast with mashed avocado, then add a sprinkling of sea salt and the seeds. Do not toast the seeds; this reduces their nutritional content.
Sesame seeds On Tofu: Marinate tofu slices in a soy-honey sauce, then coat with seeds. Bake or fry in a nonstick pan until the seeds form a crispy crust (which intensifies their nutty flavor). Frozen tofu, thawed, works best.
Sunflower seeds With Spices: Mix 1/2 cup of these sweet, buttery seeds with a pinch each of salt, cumin, chili powder, and allspice or nutmeg. Dry-roast in a pan over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Toss over guacamole, tacos or salads.