Sprouting a
Local Virtual Seed Bank
Do you think a seed bank serving the Bitterroot (and beyond) would be
worthwhile?
Our
vision is a web-based seed information service, with seeds stored by many
people in many places throughout the valley, and trading, sharing, or
bartering occurring.
If you would
be interested in participating, please join a discussion about one. The first
step would be to add your name and email address to a growing listserv that will
serve to facilitate an initial discussion about the need and structure of a seed
bank.
Send a message to Larry at
lcampbell@bitterroot.net
to get on the list, or call him at 821-3110.
From Larry:
"I see seed saving as an essential part of a local food economy
and future food security. Dependence on distant seed sources is becoming more of
a gamble. Locally grown, locally proven varieties would lead to more dependable
and productive crops.
The synergy of a community seed bank seems like good insurance against the
vagaries of individual seed stashes, which are vulnerable to crop failure, raids
by mice, etc, etc. It would also contribute to a diversity of genetic varieties
available to local growers.
Centralization of seed seems to go against nature, so it seems that a
decentralized approach would be more efficient and secure. One model would be a
virtual bank where members store their own seed and offer it for sale or
exchange via the internet. Information about who has what, what does well here,
how to cultivate and save, etc, etc. will be posted on this SLS web page.
This model is open for discussion and improvement. It is offered as something to
work with and is relatively doable because it does not require a building or a
staff person."
Seed
Growers Network - -
This page has information about the
seeds that are currently being saved by some of the
growers in the valley. Send what you are saving to Jill and she will
add them to the list.
A Typology of Community
Seed Banks - - This is a very detailed article
from a University in the U.K., in pdf format, about different types of Seed
Banks.
