Contact: Sharon Tollefson
Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens
(805) 967-7369 Sharon Tollefson <sharon@fairviewgardens.org>
Santa
Barbara
Permaculture
Network
and
Fairview
Gardens
Present:
Seed
School
Workshop
Bill
McDorman
of
Native
Seed/SEARCH
Saturday, January 28
, 9am-4:00pm, 2012
Early Bird by January 20th – Early
Bird
Cost$85,
after January 20th – $110.
Center for Urban Agriculture at
Fairview Gardens
People everywhere are beginning to recognize the
crucial link
between humanity, the crops that sustain us, and embattled seeds.
We
are on the cusp of a seed saving renaissance -an not a moment too soon.*
Join Bill McDorman on Saturday,
January
28th at Center for Urban Agriculture at
Fairview Gardens for a day-long immersion into the magic
world of seeds as he teaches the Seed School
Workshop .
Seed saving is fun, satisfying and
life affirming. You don't need a PhD
in genetics and EVERYONE, everywhere can start the seed saving
adventure
with little or no experience. First you'll need some inspiration. Bill
McDorman, Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH in Tucson will
provide that. Secondly you'll need some basic information and practice.
The Seed School Workshop is an
introductory workshop for anyone interested in the history of seeds and
how to
create a self-sufficient garden from your own seeds. This is great
training
class for gardeners, non-profits, policy makers and farmers. Those
concerned
with food security, diversity and better tasting food will revel in the
opportunity to celebrate and learn about the magic of seeds. Seed
School
teaches the practical, information necessary to recreate the genetic
foundation
for a truly sustainable agriculture.
SEED SCHOOL TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
• Structure and History of the
Seed Industry • The Magic of Seeds • Intro to Mendel’s Genetics •
Selection and Evaluation • Pollination • Breeding • Harvesting •
Germination • Wild Seed – Production, Collection, Cleaning • Seed
Exchanges, Libraries, Businesses
Seed Saving is an ancient tradition with a lineage
stretching back 12,000 years. But in less than a century's time, this
once fundamental part of the human experience has largely disappeared.
The transition from rural agrarianism to urbanization has led to
increasingly fewer people growing and interacting with seeds*
Bill McDorman is executive director of Native Seed/SEARCH http://www.nativeseeds.org/
a 28 year old Southwestern seed conservation organization based in
tucson AZ. He is the founder of three seed companies, including Seed
Trust http://www.seedstrust.com
and author of Basic Seed Saving. He has been teaching classes in wild,
edible and medicinal plants and seed saving for more than 30 years.
The program
is sponsored by Santa Barbara Permaculture
Network www.sbpermaculture.org as
community service
with assistance by Center for Urban Agriculture at
Fairview
Gardens
Additional Info:
Going
to
Seed
Bill
McDorman
of
Native Seed/SEARCH
Keynote Lecture for 4th Annual Seed Swap Friday, January 27
,
7pm-9:30pm, 2012
Donation $5 Santa Barbara Downtown Public Library Faulkner
Gallery
40 E Anapamu St Santa Barbara. CA 93101
4th Annual Seed Swap Sunday Jan 29 11-3pm Santa Barbara Downtown Public Library Faulkner Gallery
40 E Anapamu St Santa Barbara. CA 93101 www.sbpermaculture.org
* Quotes from Recent Article
Sowing Revolution Seed Libraries Offer Hope for Freedom of Food by Bill
McDorman and Stephen Thomas Acres USA January 2012
www.acresusa.com
MORE QUOTES AND INFO from article
To restore our freedom over food, it is essential that every community
have assess to a collectively owned treasure chest of seeds. Seed
Libraries represent our best hope for reclaiming this independence. As
an added benefit they boost regional biodiversity by encouraging the
cultivation of new crop varieties adapted to local conditions. With
global temperatures on the rise and financial markets plummeting , a
robust network of community foodsheds to replace the shaky monolith of
industrial agriculture has become imperative for human survival.