EMAIL: freedomseedbank@gmail.com WEB: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

EMAIL: freedomseedbank@gmail.com WEB: londonfreedomseedbank.wordpress.com FACEBOOK: freedomseedbank TWITTER: @freedomseedbank

Community Seed Projects in London, USA and Canada By Charlotte Dove www.seeddiversity.wordpress.com chardove@gmail.com

Research aims

• 1. To examine different types of

community seed project and to evaluate their success at protecting seed diversity

• 2. To seek to find common themes and

strategies intrinsic to successful and long-running seed projects

• 3. To use the research to help develop the

strategy and community engagement for the London Freedom Seed Bank

• 4. To share my findings with gardeners and

growers the UK to help encourage seed saving practices more widely

Seed Libraries Community Seed Banks Grower Networks

Seed Libraries

฀ Serves all of Pima County’s 27 library branches ฀ Distributing 1000s of seed packets per week ฀ Approx 50% of seeds in collection are locally saved

Pima County Seed Library

Community Seed Banks

Dream of Wild Health

฀ Connect Native people with indigenous food and medicine ฀ Steward a seed collection

• f over 300 varieties

฀ Seed collection donated by Cora Baker, a Native American elder

Grower Networks

Nourish Seed Savers Collective

฀ 32 growers inc. urban gardeners and organic growers ฀ Members have chosen 60 varieties ฀ Informal training and networking events

SEED LIBRARIES – Distribute free seeds, promote awareness, encourage people to grow from seed and think about where their seed comes from SEED BANKS - consolidate seed resources to a central location where they can adequately maintained and protected GROWER NETWORKS – produce high quality seed for distribution, encourage skills-sharing and collaboration amongst growers

Comparison of different models

Top Tips for Community Seed Projects

• 1. Start Small
• 2. Allow time
• 3. Forget funding!
• 4. Seek experts