Seed-Savers: Preserving Our Ecological Heritage (Network)

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Comment by Heather K on May 17, 2011 at 3:15pm

Keep on planting seeds!

Our Vision- “We are Seed-Savers: Preserving Our Ecological Heritage - Sharing & Saving Our Seeds, Educating Ourselves on the importance of regional seed-saving, Resisting corporate/laboratory bred GMO seeds, and Promoting Events for community food-security.”

 

We are students, farmers, gardeners, scientists, scholars, and citizens. This blossoming month of May brings us outside to plant seeds that will nourish our community.  We are alert to any introduction or planting of GMO seeds that could damage the commercial efforts of our farmers & gardeners growing locally consumed foods with locally saved seeds. We encourage us all to be alert to learning where GMO seeds or products containing seeds, are being brought into our county.

 

One of us will start a broader TW discussion on  “Local Food & Seed Sovereignty” to be accessible to broader TW audience.    As we learn more we'll share information with our GMO Awareness & Action network at http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/gmoaction

 

"Thomas Jefferson said he didn’t think we could have democracy unless at least 20% of the population was self-supporting on small farms so they were independent enough to be able to tell an oppressive government to 'stuff it'. It is very difficult to control people who can create products without purchasing inputs from the system, who can market their products directly thus avoiding the involvement of mercenary middlemen, who can butcher animals and preserve foods without reliance on industrial conglomerates, and who can’t be bullied because they can feed their own faces."
- Eliot Coleman, Author, Farmer, Human Being

"...The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone. Hence the futility of revolutionaries who have no gardens, who depend on the very system they attack, and who produce words and bullets, not food and shelter.“ -Bill Mollison

If you are interested in working with others protecting our ability to grow & consume our own food locally, consider connecting with these transition networks by following the discussion & assisting in events & work-parties- (after you've got your garden planted!)

 

*** GMO Awareness & Action network http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/gmoaction

 

*** Whatcom Food Security Network & Transition Food Security: http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/foodsecurityworkgroup/forum...

 

*** Transition ARC (Actions for Resilient Communities) http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/edapgroup

 

Comment by Heather K on February 5, 2011 at 4:39pm

New Grains from Uprising Organics:

 Hulless Barley & Hulless Oats!

 http://uprisingorganics.com/grains-new-/cat_60.html

*     *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   *    *    *

Community Seed-Swap on Jan 30^th was a huge success!

Special thanks to all the seed-savers who work hard and share their abundance!

The idea of seed-swaps is catching on fast this year all across the country!    “Seeds- Into the Hands of the People”

 

 *  Another chance to swap seeds in B'ham –Thurs Feb 10^th

with WSU Whatcom County Extension

(thanks to Shannon's Garden E-News for info!)

 

“Master Gardener Foundation Meeting - Speaker & Seed Exchange

@ WSU Whatcom County Extension Office, 1000 North Forest Street, Bellingham.   Please use the Laurel Street entrance.

As always, the evening will begin with non-formal social time beginning at 6:30 PM,  the meeting 7:00 PM with the quest speaker

 

SPEAKER : Colleen Burrows, Whatcom County IPM Coordinator

Her topic: "IPM UPDATE: NEW PESTS TO WATCH FOR AND DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HERBICIDE CONTAMINATION ISSUE".

 

The February & March Meetings also include a SEED EXCHANGE - shared seeds brought by Master Gardeners as well a large donation of Territorial Company 2010 vegetable and flower seeds donated by Portal Way Farm & Garden in Ferndale. Their seeds are selected for the PNW climate. Small envelopes for seed sharing will be provided.

Free and Open to the Public”

*      *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

 Video by Farmer Walter to enjoy on fabulous fava beans!

http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/fabulous-fava-beans-with

*     *    *      *    *    *  

Upcoming garden event at Terra Organica at the Public Market...pencil in the date Sat Feb 26th....More seed to share may be there that didn't make it in the mail in time for our winter community swap.

.

Comment by Heather K on January 26, 2011 at 4:25pm

 *  “Plant a Seed-Saving Garden" -  Nice article in NW Farms & Food! - http://nwfarmsandfood.com/index.php/seed-saving-garden

 

 

* “Seed-Saving Around the World” presentation from native plant seed-collector Ellen Kuhlmann, on March 16^th Weds ReStore.

http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/seed-saving-around-the-world

  

Great Quote you added Kate! “.....Swapping seeds may sound gentle, but it’s a way to get around the system. Maybe even a form of passive resistance? Take back your government, indeed. ...” - Editors of Transition Voice online

See you at the swap...I sense their may be lots of folks coming....

May the abundance of our seeds travel far.

* Plant Seeds & Sing Songs *    -    Heather K

 

Comment by Heather K on December 7, 2010 at 10:25pm

Winter Community Seed-Swap - Sunday January 30th - 11:30 am-
"Into the Hands of the People!”
Save this date & share with your seed-saving network of regional contacts.
Remember to bring your extra special seeds to share with each other, and your bulk seeds good enough for community 'seed-balls'.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
RSVP to receive updates and see tenative draft of event agenda at:
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/winter-community-seedswap

Tentative Draft of Event Description:
All Welcome to Attend Our 3rd Annual
Bellingham Community Seed-Swap
"Into the Hands of the People!"
on Sunday January 30th - 11:30am-3pm - 2011

Open Seed-Exchange & Specialty Seed Exchange -
Garden Share Opportunities & Networking - Non- Profit Tables
No Fee- but Donations accepted-

Sponsors Welcomed to request sponsorship - Pass the word!

Who should attend :
* People with extra seed to share-
(Place seeds in labeled envelopes or containers ).
* People with no seed who want seeds to grow
& learn to save- welcome to attend!

Mini-class: “The Basics – Why & How to Save Your Seeds” (30”) with Celt Schira
(And the possibility of attendance of our favorite Orcas Island seedman-dan ! )
Volunteers Welcomed – leave comment on Heather K or Shannon M personal TW page or email us or just show up and help out.

Current Sponsors: Food Not Lawns, Earthcare Garden Designs, Forest Garden Urban Ecology Center...With More Sponsors to come!!!

Other Ideas: We could considering having a Speaker Presentation on a different day to help promote this swap....Shannon is working on that idea & contacting a WWU speaker.
(Volunteers may stay later to help take down)
Location – Most likely in same place as last year and we are awaiting confirmation.

Comment by Brian Kerkvliet on November 23, 2010 at 2:54pm

Thanks for that affirming quote Kate. It is nice to hear acknowledgment from someone involved in a different situation.
Besides it being a fun Fall and Spring event it is important that we affirm the right to take the power back to harvest, trade and grow our own seeds for food diversity and interdependence.

Comment by Kate Clark on November 23, 2010 at 1:29pm

From the Editors of Transition Voice online...

Editor’s note: We garden, but apparently not enough to understand why seed swaps are such the rage in Europe and among Transition groups everywhere. To us, they just seemed like a charming little way to get together, but not necessarily a very urgent form of community organizing. We couldn’t have been more wrong. Apparently the European Union ushered in rules stating that only so-called licensed seeds could be sold in the marketplace, a costly hurdle for small growers that risked extinction for certain highly local heirloom varieties. And another form of centralized control by big business and their lackeys in government over the little guy. Swapping seeds may sound gentle, but it’s a way to get around the system. Maybe even a form of passive resistance? Take back your government, indeed.

Comment by Heather K on October 19, 2010 at 5:10pm

Seed Savers Autumn Event & Barter Exchange!
November 13th Saturday at Inspiration Farm!

Help us in co-creating this autumn event
& add your RSVP to the event page:
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/inspiration-farm-seed-swap...

2nd Annual Autumn
“ Inspiration Farm Seed Swap & Barter Exchange”
Please join us for an informal seed swap and barter exchange:
Bring your seeds, preserves, handy crafts, etc.
Please bring your own envelopes, bags, labels, etc.
Bringing your seeds in the shell pods. or on the stems, or inside the fruit, is fine! We can work & share together.
The farm can provide a limited amount of table space and chairs-- please bring your own table, chair(s) and canopy if you have them.
Bring recycled envelopes & bags to share.
We need a a handful of committed volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up and breakdown.
Bring your instruments to jam around the fire circle during the event. Potluck Finger foods welcomed.</</u>b> Donations accepted.

“...Plant Seeds!....Sing Songs!....”

Comment by Forest Garden on October 17, 2010 at 11:40am

HI Krista, Check in the SKagit VAlley...put a notice up at the Skagit VAlley CO-Op you might have some luck ! .

Comment by Celt M. Schira on October 17, 2010 at 11:00am

Krista, a check of the usual on-line sources last month turned up a lot of "sold out" notices. It's looking like we will have to develop our own local resiliency in multiplier onions.
I had a tiny success this year, saving seed from toscano basil, the basic green leafed kind. Getting basil to mature seed around here is breeding basil to bolt, from the point of view of growers in traditional regions.

Comment by Krista Rome on October 17, 2010 at 10:34am

Jamie:
Sure, but I've posted several places including the normally lucrative Whatcom Farmers Google Group, and have had only dead silence in response.

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