[Lapg] Jan 30 & 31/International Seed Swap Day & Talk with Lorenz Schaller of the Kusa Seed Society/ Humanity's Ancient Relationship with Edible Seed Crops

[Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

           I n honor of International Seed Swap Day, Santa Barbara 
Permaculture Network presents Lorenz Schaller of the Kusa Seed 
Society, speaking about  on Friday, January 30, 7:30pm at the Santa 
Barbara Public Library, Faulkner Gallery.

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.  Lorenz Schaller's work and the mission of 
the Kusa Seed Society is to increase humanity's knowledge and 
understanding of this very ancient relationship.

Experience a colorful slide show of humanity's relationship with 
sacred cereal grasses such as barley, amaranth, kamut, spelt, millet, 
oats, quinoa, and other edible seed crops from around the 
world.  Twenty years in the making the presentation is a pictorial 
tapestry woven from the threads of more than 400 international 
photo-images of spectacular beauty taken from remote agricultural 
villages and fields in places like the Himalayan mountains; rugged 
Ladakh; the Kingdom of Bhutan; the Tibetan plateau; rural Korea, 
Turkey, India, and many other lands.

A longtime Ojai resident, Lorenz Schaller is a remarkable steward of 
his environment. Having worked as a gardener and landscapist for many 
years, he developed a keen interest in the ancient tradition of seed 
saving.  Formerly a staff member at the California Institute of 
Technology (Cal-Tech), Schaller studied and has taught the 
nutritional, culinary, and ecological significance of biodiverse seed 
crops for decades.  Over time, his scientific knowledge merged with a 
deeper spiritual connection to the life cycles of the planet. He 
could see the bigger picture of how seed crops supplied most of the 
world with important, densely nutritious foods. These miraculous 
plants feed more humans and wildlife than any other food 
source.  Lorenz founded Kusa Seed Society 
(www.ancientcerealgrains.org) in 1980. Kusa is a Sanskrit word 
meaning sacred grass.  He is currently writing a book on Tibetan 
Barley Tsampa, the story of hulless barley, an ancient food for 
humans and their evolving civilizations.  The book is dedicated to 
the Tibetan people and the Dalai Lama.

A special part to the evening will be music provided by flamenco 
guitarist Russ Baggerly ("Chato").  Chato lived and studied in 
Seville, Spain, where in the heartland of Gypsy music, he learned the 
art of flamenco guitar.

The event takes place at the Santa Barbara Public Library, Faulkner 
Gallery, 40 East Anapamu St, in downtown Santa Barbara, on Friday, 
January 30, 7-9pm, 2009.  No reservations are required, donation $5. 
For more information please call (805) 962-2571, or email 
<mailto:margie at sbpermaculture.org>margie at sbpermaculture.org; 
www.sbpermaculture.org.

Presented by the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network Non-Profit. 
Co-Sponsors: Food Not Lawns/SB Chpt; Fairview Gardens; SBCC Center 
for Sustainability, Healing Grounds Nursery, The Green Academy, 
Island Seed & Feed, the Santa Barbara Organics Club, Gary Atkins 
Sound Systems, and Sustainable World Radio

SEED SWAP EVENT NEXT DAY: January 31, 2009, International Seed Swap Day

Community Seed Swap on Saturday January 31, 2009, International Seed Swap Day
10-3pm, Alameda Park, downtown Santa Barbara (between Garden and 
Santa Barbara Street)
A Celebration to bring seeds & people together. A fun day to share & 
exchange seeds, plants, & cuttings.  Seed saving demonstrations, kids 
crafts, seed ball making, music & more.  Free

This local community Seed Swap event is inspired by Heather Flores 
and the Food Not Lawns movement ( www.foodnotlawns.net), which is 
encouraging seed swap events across the nation on this day.  Local 
organizations participating for the event are the Santa Barbara 
Chapter of Food Not Lawns, Santa Barbara Seed Exchange, Santa Barbara 
Permaculture Network, Fairview Gardens,  SB Info Shop, the Green 
Academy, Santa Barbara City College Center for Sustainability, 
Healing Grounds Nursery, Island Seed & Feed Nursery, Santa Barbara 
Organics Club, Sustainable World Radio and others.


To Learn More about Event Sponsors:
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network,  www.sbpermaculture.org
Food Not Lawns/SB Chpt ,  www.sbfoodnotlawns.org
Santa Barbara Seed Exchange, http://www.sbseeds.blogspot.com
Fairview Gardens,  www.fairviewgardens.org
SBCC Center for Sustainability, www.sustainability.sbcc.edu
Healing Grounds Nursery www.healinggrounds.org
SB Info Shop, http://sbinfoshop.org
The Green Academy, www.thegreenacademy.com
Island Seed & Feed, www.islandseed.com
Sustainable World Radio,  www.sustainableworldradio.com
Santa Barbara Organic Garden Club, lbsaltzman at aol.com
Edible Seeds

***Friday, Jan 23,  9-10am interview with Lorenz Schaller on 
Sustainable World Radio on KCSB 91.9 FM PST, streaming live on 
www.kcsb.org. Also found on   www.sustainableworldradio.com later in 
the month.
-end-

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