[Central Coast CA Permaculture] *PR June 25 6:30pm Maize Talk with Lorenz Schaller/Kickoff Event for 6th Annual Seed Swap

Thu Jan 2 19:43:07 PST 2014

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network Presents : 

"Modern Science Meets Ancient Maize"
with Lorenz Schaller of the Kusa Seed Society 
Saturday, January 25, 6:30pm-8:30pm 2014
 $5 donation
 Santa Barbara Central Library, Faulkner Gallery

        J oin Santa Barbara Permaculture Network as it hosts  "Modern Science Meets Ancient Maize", with Lorenz Schaller of the Kusa Seed Society, on Friday, January 25, a kick off event for the 6th Annual Santa Barbara Community Seed Swap, this year with a theme of plants from MesoAmerica and the Western Hemisphere.

Maize was the plant-food staple of MesoAmerica and the first American societies.  Domesticated from teosinte grasses in Southern Mexico, maize was the staple grain of the Aztec empire.  Ancient Mayans had over three hundred Maize foods, while the Incas, an advanced agricultural civilization that skillfully developed an amazing variety of plants like quinoa, amaranth, beans and potatoes; prized Maize above all others as the plant that nourished and allowed their civilization to rise and thrive.

In his talk Lorenz Schaller will share the history and ancient secrets of the sacred-maize tradition, "as revealed by the bright light of modern science in the fields of human nutrition, cereal chemistry, and holistic health & well being".  Attendees of the talk will have a chance to learn the basics of preparing whole-grain maize for human use, including the historic and delicious cinnamon or sometimes chocolate maize based hot drink Atole, still popular in Mexico today.  Please join us for an enlightening evening!

A longtime Ojai resident, Lorenz Schaller is a remarkable steward of his environment.  Formerly a staff member at the California Institute of Technology (Cal-Tech), Schaller studied and taught the nutritional, culinary, and ecological significance of bio-diverse seed crops for many decades.  Over time, his scientific knowledge merged with a deeper spiritual connection to the life cycles of the planet.  Schaller founded the Kusa Seed Research Foundation and Kusa Seed Society in 1980, with an intention to assure the survival of many ancient, rare, and endangered edible seedcrop strains that were the building blocks for human civilizations around the globe.  Operating as a scholarly think tank, the Kusa Seed Society also maintains seed archives of precious seed stocks, with seeds and informative seed publications available to the public.  Kusa is a Sanskrit word meaning sacred grass. 

The evening talk takes place on Saturday, January 25, 6:30pm-8:30pm at the downtown Santa Barbara Public Library, Faulkner Gallery, 40 East Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.  Donation $5, no reservations required.  More Info, (805)962-2571, margie at sbpermaculture.org, www.sbpermaculture.org

Sponsored by Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
www.sbpermaculture.org

Seed Swap Next Day:

6th Annual Santa Barbara Community Seed Swap:
(with theme of plants from MesoAmerica & the Western Hemisphere)
Sunday, January 26, 2014
 11 AM - 3 PM, FREE 
Santa Barbara Public Library, Faulkner Gallery, 40 East Anapamu St, Santa Barbara

Bring seeds & take seeds
Music & activities for all ages, children welcome!
Santa Barbara Seed Saving Guild will share valuable seed saving techniques

For more info: www.sbpermaculture.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/632203483488117/

Additional Info:

Kusa Seed Society:
http://www.ancientcerealgrains.org/
Mission Statement:
The purpose of The Kusa Seed Society is to increase humanity’s knowledge and understanding of a very ancient relationship—the relationship connecting humanity with the edible seedcrops.
The precious edible seeds of the earth — the cereal grains, grain-legumes, oilseeds and other precious edible seeds — have a history of small-scale cultivation and utilization which dates back more than 10,000 years.

-end-

(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie at sbpermaculture.org
www.sbpermaculture.org

P lPlease consider the environment before printing this email.

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