Save seeds, protect diversity

ON THE GARDEN PATH by Carolyn Herriot •

The best time to plant a tree
is 20 years ago. – Chinese Proverb

• I often reflect on this wise proverb when thinking about the grassroots community seed shows we introduced to the West Coast over 20 years ago. The intention was to educate people on the imperative of preserving plant genetic diversity through seed saving, but in an interactive participatory and fun manner. Seedy Saturdays are non-profit, public seed swaps held across Canada, organized by individuals and community groups that see a need for gardeners, seed companies, nurseries, gardening organizations, historic sites and community groups to exchange ideas and purchase or swap seeds and plants.

Attendees are able to contribute, not just consume. At the heart of each show is the seed exchange. The number of events increases every year, with over 100 held across the country in 2011. Boasting 2,400 attendees last year, the Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday has become a major community event since its inauguration 10 years ago. The same holds true for most shows I attend; there are now waiting lists for vendors and exhibitors and they have grown in attendance each year. This phenomenon instills in me the reassurance that, at the end of the day, people power will overcome adversity. (www.qbseedysaturday.com)

Seeds of Diversity is Canada’s grassroots solution to protecting plant genetic heritage. The 2012 Member Seed Directory boasts 3,500 varieties of vegetable, fruit, grain, herb and flower seeds, saved by 120 Seeds of Diversity members and made available for sale or trade. They have compiled a list of online resources to identify sources of Canadian, heritage, organic or other hard-to-find seeds. (www.gardenlist.com) Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogues lists over 2,000 mail-order gardening catalogues in the US and Canada and provides ratings for quality, service, price and breadth of varieties.

It’s encouraging to know that many community groups involved in food security issues have understood the need to include seed saving amongst their activities. People are gathering together to share these little miracles of life in their neighbourhoods and organizations and starting local seed banks to secure their ability to grow food in the future.

What a relief this is, as Monsanto tightens its grip on ownership and control of food seeds around the globe. My greatest concern is that genetically modified seeds are cross-pollinating with wild species, making it impossible to fully clean up our contaminated gene pool. Thousands of years of careful plant domestication is being threatened forever by the irresponsible actions of a corporation bending the laws of nature, creating havoc in the fields and compromising the ability of future generations to feed themselves.

Let’s bring the food back home, rebuild sustainable agricultural systems and put the next generation of farmers to work to mend the destruction we are now witnessing. To organize your own Seedy Saturday, contact mail@seeds.ca for helpful information and free promotion on the Seeds of Diversity website. For a full listing of 2012 events, visit www.seeds.ca/ev/events.php

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Carolyn Herriot is author of A Year on the Garden Path, a 52-Week Organic Gardening Guide and The Zero Mile Diet: A Year-round Guide to Growing Organic Food (Harbour Publishing). www.earthfuture.com/gardenpath/