Seed Libraries, Growing Community

"A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free or for a nominal fee and is run for the public benefit. Many seed libraries are open in public libraries and community centers. For some communities, getting folks to garden and grow some of their own food is the focus. For other communities, seed libraries may be created as an important step to develop a network of seed savers, to create locally adapted varieties, to respond proactively to climate change or loss of gene integrity due to GMOs or to preserve genetic diversity. Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years. Rejoin the ritual and start to save seed and share the abundance in your community."

There are hundreds of seed libraries in the United Sates, at this time, 38 of them are located in California. Sadly they are under threat by corporate interests who are trying to push laws which would make seed saving prohibitively expensive and impossible to manage for small local libraries and communities. Fortunately, there are some dedicated people working to save the seed libraries in California and other states. The Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC) in Oakland, have worked to successfully pass legislation to carve out an exemption for the age old tradition of community seed saving in Minnesota and Nebraska. The SELC and others are working to introduce a similar law here in CA, AB 1810, the Seed Exchange Democracy Act. The City of Oakland has passed a resolution supporting community seed saving, and citizens are urging other ciity councils to support similar resolutions.

The definition of "community" comes from the free exchange of gifts; sharing creates community. Where I live, in Palo Alto, there are Skill Share Faires, providing an opportunity to share knowledge, as well as food, seeds, other things that are useful, to deepen our understanding on issues and grow a more vibrant community, at the same time. The upcoming Skill Share is focused on "Food, Garden, and Seeds!" in support of AB 1810, and in hopes of encouraging the local Rinconada Library to begin a Seed Library. For more details, see Transition Palo Alto's website, for the Sunday, April 10th, 2016 1-3 pm event at Cunbberly Community Center in Palo Alto transitionpaloalto.org.

In honor of International Seed Day (April 26) the Seed Exchange Democracy Act AB 1810 will be introduced to the larger community during SEED Day Celebrations. This act will allow communities to share seeds unencumbered by tests and fees. A larger event will include expert speakers, Rosalind Creasy, author and Seed Savers Exchange Boardmember, Master Gardeners, and Assembly Member Levine, Sustainable Economies Law Center. This event will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2016 1pm-9pm at Rancho Rinconada Pk & Rec Ctr, Cupertino. It will also include a seed exchange and people are encouraged to bring seeds, healthy snacks and drinks to share. There will also be an Oaxacan Food Truck from 5 - 7 pm.

There are some very sobering numbers that reflect the loss of genetic diversity within the world food supply.
* Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has been lost as farmers worldwide have left their multiple local varieties and landraces for genetically uniform, high-yielding, high input dependent varieties, .
* 30 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; six breeds are lost each month. ,br> * Today, 75 percent of the world's food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species.
*Just 3 companies control more than half (53%) of the global commercial market for seed.
The global commercial seed market in 2009 is estimated at 27,400 million.
The top 10 companies account for 73% of the global market (up from 67% in 2007).
Just 3 companies control more than half (53%) of the global commercial market for seed.
Monsanto, the world's largest seed company and fourth largest pesticide company, now controls more than one-quarter (27%) of the commercial seed market.
Dow Agrosciences – the world's fifth largest pesticide company, made a dramatic re-entry on the top 10 seed company list in 2009 following a seed company-buying spree that included Hyland Seeds (Canada), MTI (Austria), Pfister Seeds (USA) and Triumph Seed (USA), among others. [www.etcgroup.org]
Details on the International Seed Day event in Cupertino-
$5-$15 Suggested donation (no one turned away) seedday2016.brownpapertickets.com
Proceeds go to campaigning for the seed bill. slowfoodsouthbay.org
Follow AB 1810 at www.legtrack.com/bill.html?bill=201520160AB1810