Re: Seed Saving, Save Money, Save your favourite plants, save genetic diversity.

Why not join your local seed savers group, or even start your own, in your area. Here is a bit of background on the Aussie seed savers groups.

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http://www.seedsavers.net/local-seed-networks


Background to Local Seed Networks

For many years, Seed Savers seed bank in Byron Bay was the "centre" of the Seed Savers' Network, providing leadership, vision, enthusiastic energy and seeds to everyone who would listen, and save seeds if they were not already adept. In 2001 we decided to decentralise, encouraging people across Australia to form their own seed saving groups and share in the responsibility and pleasure of sharing locally adapted seeds. Let alone the privilege of been at the entry point of many local varieties and rare species of food plants. The concept of "Local Seed Networks" was taking shape. Today many people understand the value of finding local varieties that grow well without pesticides varietiies that are truly local.

By mid 2007 we had completed with John Brisbin our pro-bono web architect and friend, our five year plan towards the goal of setting up at least sixty Local Seed Networks (LSNs). By late 2009 we had 97 Local Seed Networks registered.

If you're the busy type , love to have access to lots of seeds, and love to share resources, we invite you to join us in this exciting and challenging journey. We have a Charter and Guidelines, see below, which outline what we offer and minimum service for a Local Seed Network. If you agree to this, we send a Questionnaire ( we will have one soon online) that prompts your group to decide on matters such as its name, its aims, where and how often it will meet and what its target audience might be. Seed Savers then sends a set of posters and pamphlets to you for promotion and sets up a webpage on this website for your LSN.

We have a vibrant, participatory network of networks all across the country. No matter where you live, there should be an active Local Seed Network near you except if you are in the outback. Lets not forget that some Australian have not even moble coverage and are hours away from a library or hospital. If you have no LSN near you, please consider starting one up! Join us now and let's build a healthier future together!
What are Local Seed Networks?

A local seed network is a group of people never mind how small, who enjoy swapping seeds and cuttings as much as they enjoy sharing stories and other garderners company. Many people have told us how much they have enjoyed getting together with other growers in their area, and suggested that we might help other groups get started. The Local Seed Networks project is our way of sharing Seed Savers Network's knowledge, tools, and encouragement with anyone who wants to save seeds with their neighbours! Jude and I have turned 60 a while back and are now producing video clips for this website on factors of resilence, home seed production, indigenous farmers, children learning in gardens, feasts and foods, food preps from gardens to table, wild harvests and gleaning, unusual harvests, we also have 700 interviews to choose from.... Anyone experienced likes to help? 229 hours of footage shot in 15 countries are all logged, properly indexed and stored. email michel@seedsavers.net
Why are Local Seed Networks important?

The basic answer to many of today's problems with poor-quality corporate-bred vegetables is quite simple: grow your own! If you're on this site, you probably are already a gardener and appreciate the tasty rewards of a simple kitchen garden.

Preserving local and traditional varieties is incredibly important to having good food on the table. Local Seed Networks are an excellent way to find local varieties that are not offered by seed companies. when it comes to tubers and vegetatively propagated plants nothing beats a local seed network. From one garden to another.

LSNs are also the place where you learn how to preserve and prepare garden foods.

If you're interested in forming a local group, please email Michel or Jude at info at seedsavers.net to help you get started (replace at by @).
Local Seed Network Charter

Inaugurated May 2004

Amended in March 2007

The purpose of this Charter is to provide a definition and set of guidelines for a Local Seed Network (LSN) that will help to direct their activities and also serve to unite LSNs under The Seed Savers' Network banner with a shared vision and aims.
Definition of a Local Seed Network

A Local Seed Network is a group, registered with The Seed Savers' Network, of three or more people living in the same bioregion who swap seeds and planting material with the purpose of conserving open-pollinated varieties of food plants.
Aims

* To find, grow and distribute locally adapted seeds, particularly of vegetables and herbs as well as plants that are propagated by tubers, cuttings, rhizomes, bulbs, etc.,

* To adapt new varieties to local conditions,

* To promote the practice of seed saving and the importance of conserving diversity in our food crops, to schools for example,

* To support other LSNs by sharing knowledge, skills, seeds and planting material,

Guidelines

As a Local Seed Network of The Seed Savers' Network, we ask that you:

* Focus your plant conservation efforts on open pollinated vegetable seeds and other culinary plants,
* Do not trade or exchange illegal or restricted plants,

* Establish your LSN as (or within) a non-profit organisation so that any revenue generated by your activities is directed back into your network,

* Behave in a cooperative, tolerant, inclusive and respectful manner to fellow members and other Local Seed Networks,
* Swap seeds and other planting material freely amongst yourselves,

* Meet at least three times each year,

* Sign up supporters to The Seed Savers' Network, as below,

* Keep in regular contact with social seed networks: facebook.com/seedsaversmetwork
* youtube.com/seedsavers
* http://www.seedsavers.net


Collaboration with Seed Savers' Network
Support for The Seed Savers' Network

We like to keep costs down for LSNs while they are establishing themselves. Hence we ask that as a minimum, for the first year, the coordinator of the LSN becomes a Seed Savers supporter; in the second year a second person pays a support fee and from the third year there is at least a third supporter (including the coordinator). The cost is $50 a year and $90 for two years . Check the payment page on this site on the home page. Help us to help you.
Support Offered by the Seed Savers' Network

The support the Seed Savers' Network offers includes:
Starter Kit

* a web page on the Seed Savers website for LSNs to promote their activities and gain new members,

* access to a purpose-written manual for establishing and maintaining an LSN: Local Seed Network Manual.

Ongoing Support

* general administration, including web site administration,

* technical telephone advice on all aspects of coordinating a seed network,

* publicity for LSNs around Australia through Seed Savers' public profile and media contacts (see more below),

* support visits to LSNs (please arrange at least six months in advance). we will have an online chart of regions we visit.

Training

* Workshops by arrangement, screening of the film 'Our Seeds',

* Curricula for seed saving courses.

Resources at Bulk Prices

Seed Savers offers resources either for use by LSNs or for them to sell as income generation including:

* The Seed Savers' Handbook,

* Local Seed Network Manual,

* Seed to Seed, Food Gardens in Schools,
* DVD of one hour documentary "Our Seeds" released in 2008, 57 minutes, $24 post paid ($15 for five or more copies),

* Local Seed Networks get all four Seed Savers' posters Free with every order!

Promotional Materials

* Posters for training and promotion,

* pamphlets for education and recruiting.

Ongoing support for Local Seed Networks

We publicise Local Seed Networks in newspapers and magazines, on radio and TV and at conferences whenever possible. We also encourage organisations, multicultural, family or community groups that may be interested, or even active, in saving traditional varieties of food plants, to commence an LSN formally or to join with you.
Local Seed Network activities

* look around your neighbourhood for anything unusual or even suspect such as weird-looking food plants;
* talk to your neighbours about their gardens;
* try to find out from older gardeners how they have saved their seeds from year to year, how they create garden soil, how they manage without pesticides;
* be the first to offer other gardeners cuttings and tubers and seeds you have saved;
* establish a seed collection/small seed bank by multiplying local seed stock for distribution to local gardeners (please note that seeds have a limited life span, usually a few years only); the purpose of the exercise is to create a dynamic network of friends to keep them in their gardens;
* record movement of seeds and planting materials to and from the seed bank if you have one;
* organise garden tours so gardening skills, seeds, food preserving methods can be shared;
* demonstrate best seed harvesting, cleaning, and storing practices at markets, fairs, schools etc.;
* promote the vital importance of seed saving and local garden diversity in the local media;
* initiate seed saving activities in schools;
* raise money for seed projects in the Majority World and let your group sponsor some of our projects. Thank you!!
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