News from Local Seed Networks around Australia

18 May 2004
There are more than sixty local seed networks in Australia, organising the exchange of seeds between local gardeners and spreading seed saving skills.

Local Seed Network Manual Launched

The first edition of the Local Seed Network Manual became available for distribution in January 2004. The Manual has 100 pages overflowing with info, ideas, case studies, photos and illustrations on all aspects of running a local seed network. Printing was funded by the Flow Fund and copies were sent to the sixty Local Seed Networks around Australia.

Included are tips from Mazza Verdante in Grafton on how to source seeds; examples of record keeping systems from The Seed Savers’ Network, North Western Sydney Community Seed Savers and The Planting Material Network in the Solomon Islands; and clear instructions and illustrations on drying, cleaning, storing and viability testing seeds. Methods of seed distribution are included from Richmond East Timorese Seed Savers in Melbourne portable seed bank to a two for one distribution system in India. As well there are great ideas and tips on running workshops and promoting seed saving including sample press releases, seed saving articles and flyers to photocopy and use.

The Local Seed Network Manual is available for AUD20 from Seed Savers. See order form page.

Coordinating Local Seed Network Course

Our first course on Coordinating Local Seed Networks was offered in October 2003. Three days of gaining inspiration and support from one another were enjoyed by participants and facilitators alike. Twenty-five participants attended, the majority were existing local seed network coordinators with a handful interested in starting an LSN up.

The first draft of the Local Seed Network Manual formed the basis of the programme. Practical exercises on seed storage, conducting germination tests and updating the website were appreciated by the participants as was getting out into the garden to harvest and clean seeds. Seed Savers Up North near Cairns gave a presentation on how they formed their network. During a role play on approaching gardeners for seeds we discovered what fabulous actors our local seed network coordinators are.

A useful planning session was conducted on the last day of the course to clarify the roles of the LSNs and SSN and develop a plan for future action. During the session Seed Savers staff outlined how LSNs and SSN support one another, detailing the needs of both. There was a resolution that a charter or set of principles be adopted and adhered to by all LSNs. Various fee structures were suggested and these were circulated to all local seed networks. Feedback determined the payment options of simply the coordinator subscribing to Seed Savers for the first two years; and in subsequent years enlisting at least two others, or paying AUD100 per year for services from Seed Savers.

Local Seed Network Charter

The charter was developed as a result of the desire expressed during the LSN course that a framework or set of guidelines be developed for LSNs which will help to direct LSN activities and also serve to unite LSNs under The Seed Savers’ Network banner with shared aims and guidelines.

Definition of a Local Seed Network

A local seed network is a group of three or more people living in the same bioregion, registered with The Seed Savers’ Network, 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 support other LSNs by sharing knowledge, skills, seeds and planting material.

Guidelines

As a LSN of The Seed Savers’ Network, we ask that you:

• Focus your plant conservation efforts on open pollinated vegetable seeds and other culinary plants,

• Refrain from illegal or restricted plants,

• Establish and run your LSN as a non-profit organization so that any revenue generated by your activities is directed back into your network not distributed amongst members,

• Behave in a cooperative, tolerant, inclusive and respectful manner to fellow members and other local seed networks,

• Meet or run events at least three times each year,

• Keep in regular contact with The Seed Savers’ Network.

Promotion and Support

All Local Seed Networks have the right to a webpage hosted gratis on our website with provision for activities, news and seed lists. There is a facility for coordinators of each network to update their webpage themselves and anyone can find their nearest local network by putting in their suburb/town.

We welcome the formation of Local Seed Networks and hope to finish the five year transition period from moving seeds through our seed bank to most moving through local networks with at least a hundred networks functioning across Australia.

At The Grass Roots

Violet Town Seed Savers

During the LSN course and Annual Conference week last October, I met a Ted Lyneham on the garden tour. When he heard I was from Violet Town he told me about a stopover in Violet Town he made on a Young Farmers trip to the Sydney Show in 1956. He remembers a grape vine that grew in the main street area which much impressed his group.

I had to tell him that sadly this wondrous vine was no longer. But I decided to see what I could find out about it so wrote a piece for our local monthly newspaper asking did anyone recall the vine. I recently received a short letter in beautiful copperplate from a lady in Melbourne telling me that she believed she knew of the vine in question, it having grown at her parents’ home in Violet Town and at a couple of other sites.

She says it is a French grape with a cranberry - currant fruit flavour, is very vigorous with large leaves and that she has never seen its like anywhere else in Australia, only in France. And ... the absolutely wonderful news is that she took cuttings of it to Melbourne and it is growing happily there at her home on a fence! So Ted, if you read this and would like cuttings of this grape, I'll be taking cuttings from it this winter!

Cheers Terry Frewin, terryf@activ8.net.au

Castlereagh Seed Network

Dennis, who was raised on a farm at Glen Alice, has some very early memories involving gardening and seeds.

Dennis was five years old when he successfully grew his first vegetables - Brown Beauty beans. He can still remember a few other varieties of vegetables from those early years including Phenomenal Maincrop Cauliflower, Drumhead Cabbage, South Australian White Celery, Crystal Apple Cucumber, Grosse Lisse and Pearson Tomatoes, Red Heart Watermelon and Hale’s Best Rockmelon.

Dennis says his aim is to see the old varieties of vegetables, fruits and other plants survive and thrive.

A variety of stall holders from the local farmers markets came to the Garden and Market Day on April 17. Catriona MacMillan from Heaven and Earth Systems, Frank Frost a long term seed saver and SSN member and Reg Kidd, local Orange gardening guru on the local ABC radio Saturday morning show, participated.

Permaculture Noosa Seed Savers

Permaculture Noosa is a large group of people that are actively practising Permaculture principles in their lives. We also have a constant stream of new people coming and going

Our Seed Saving Bank is starting to move in exciting ways. For years it was stagnant, with some easy to grow ”Permaculture” type seeds available, but now the selection is growing constantly. Seed saving talks have recently been given at our monthly meetings.

We have a core group of seed savers and I’m passing on seeds for others to grow and save as well. My aim is to have all the seed and planting material available to Permaculture Noosa, so that we become self-sustainable.

Thanks again for the selection of seed that was sent to us.

South Australian Seed Savers

On Sunday 4 April South Australian Seed Savers held their 2004 Autumn Seedy Sunday at Wynn Vale Community Garden, Park Lake Drive, Wynn Vale.

Enjoy visits to productive gardens. We had a forum and saw presentations on organic mulching, composting, fertilizing and effective water usage. We shared seeds, plants, bulbs and cuttings and the knowledge to make them thrive.

Local Seed Networking makes sense to keep our food source in the hands of the community who know what grows best in our area. Michelle Mohyla will share ways to support Local Seed Networking for food production.

Contact: Allison Miller on jamiller@airnet.com.au

Southern Cross Seed Savers, Melbourne

Our group meets three to four times a year at each others’ homes so we can learn from each other. In January we took a trip to Bacchus Marsh to see orchards. We swapped lots of seeds and plants and bought some pure honey from our members, Pam and Alan, who have their own bees.

Milton Ulladulla Sustainable Gardening Seed Savers

This new local seed network meets on the first Sunday of each month, 2pm, at a different garden each time. Seeds and other propagation material are exchanged between members. The topic for February was saving seeds from one's garden.

A number of members have experience in saving seeds from a wide range of plants and are active members of the Seed Savers Network.

This group is interested in gardening using permaculture, organic and other environmental methods. Most of the members grow useful plants - vegetables, fruit trees and herbs. Some also include poultry in their gardens. Everyone's garden is different and reflects the individual gardener.

If you would like find out more contact Robyn Miller on 02 44564057 or silkyoak@internode.on.net