Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of the People - Softcover

Conner, Cindy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0865717826 ISBN 13: 9780865717824

Publisher: New Society Publishers, 2015

Synopsis

Community-based initiatives to preserve and protect our food supply

Historically, seed companies were generally small, often family-run businesses. Because they were regionally based, they could focus on varieties well-suited to the local environment. A Pacific Northwest company, for example, would specialize in different cultivars than a company based in the Southeast. However the absorption of these small, independent seed businesses into large multinationals, combined with the advancement of biotechnology resulting in hybrids and GMO seeds, has led to a serious loss of genetic diversity. The public is now at the mercy of the corporations that control the seeds.

In the past few years, gardeners have realized the inherent danger in this situation. A growing movement is striving to preserve and expand our stock of heritage and heirloom varieties through seed saving and sharing opportunities. Seed Libraries is a practical guide to saving seeds through community programs, including:

• Step-by-step instructions for setting up a seed library
• A wealth of ideas to help attract patrons and keep the momentum going
• Profiles of existing libraries and other types of seed saving partnerships

Whoever controls the seeds controls the food supply. By empowering communities to preserve and protect the genetic diversity of their harvest, Seed Libraries is the first step towards reclaiming our self-reliance while enhancing food security and ensuring that the future of food is healthy, vibrant, tasty, and nutritious.

Cindy Conner is a permaculture educator, founder of Homeplace Earth and producer of two popular instructional gardening DVDs. She is also the author of Grow a Sustainable Diet .

About this title

About the Author

Cindy Conner is a permaculture educator and founder of Homeplace Earth. She is the producer of two popular instructional DVDs entitled Develop a Sustainable Vegetable Garden Plan and Cover Crops and Compost Crops IN Your Garden. A former market gardener, Cindy was instrumental in establishing a sustainable agriculture program at her local community college which she taught for over a decade. She is also the author of Grow a Sustainable Diet.

From the Back Cover

Community-based initiatives to preserve and protect our food supply

Cindy Conner introduces a movement to keep seeds in the hands of the people while revitalizing public libraries and communities.
Ira Wallace, author, The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast

...a must-read for anyone embarking on the task of setting up their own seed library, or those just interested in becoming more informed on the issue of genetic diversity in our food systems.
Paul Hrycyk, Seed Library Coordinator, Seeds of Diversity

OVER THE PAST few generations, multinational corporations have seized the lion's share of the seed market, squeezing out small, regional, family-run companies and causing biodiversity to suffer. In recent years, gardeners have come to realize the inherent danger in this situation.

Seed saving is the first step on the road to reclaiming control of our harvest while expanding the available stock of heritage and heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables. Seed Libraries is a practical guide to saving and sharing seeds through communitybased programs, including:

• Step-by-step instructions for setting up a seed library
• A wealth of ideas to help attract patrons and keep the momentum going
• Examples of existing libraries and other types of seed-saving partnerships.

Whoever controls the seeds controls the food supply. Empowering communities to preserve and protect the genetic diversity of their harvest, Seed Libraries is a powerful tool to help enhance self-reliance while ensuring that the future of our food is healthy, vibrant, tasty and nutritious.

Seed Libraries opens wide a door to the world of seed saving for the curious and committed alike.
Vicki Robin, author, Blessing the Hands that Feed Us

Cindy Conner is a permaculture educator, founder of Homeplace Earth and the producer of two popular instructional DVDs on sustainable gardening. She is also the author of Grow a Sustainable Diet .

To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select New Society Publishers books to its readers. This book is one of them.

Edition details

• Publisher: New Society Publishers
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0865717826
• ISBN 13: 9780865717824
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192