#seedbanks — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #seedbanks, aggregated by home.social.
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We have #seedBanks to archive and protect our #naturalHeritage on land. But more and more #seaLife is endangered globally. Inside Australia's biobanks with their ocean species: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/04/marine-biobanks-protect-ocean-species
"“Less than 1% of historical #reefs remain,” Overton says. “They’re definitely one of the most imperilled marine ecosystems that we have here in Australia.” From #reef restoration to #kelp or #seagrass #conservation.
#ecosystem #MeerMittwoch #sea #oceanConservation #marineEcology #Australia
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We have #seedBanks to archive and protect our #naturalHeritage on land. But more and more #seaLife is endangered globally. Inside Australia's biobanks with their ocean species: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/04/marine-biobanks-protect-ocean-species
"“Less than 1% of historical #reefs remain,” Overton says. “They’re definitely one of the most imperilled marine ecosystems that we have here in Australia.” From #reef restoration to #kelp or #seagrass #conservation.
#ecosystem #MeerMittwoch #sea #oceanConservation #marineEcology #Australia
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We have #seedBanks to archive and protect our #naturalHeritage on land. But more and more #seaLife is endangered globally. Inside Australia's biobanks with their ocean species: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/04/marine-biobanks-protect-ocean-species
"“Less than 1% of historical #reefs remain,” Overton says. “They’re definitely one of the most imperilled marine ecosystems that we have here in Australia.” From #reef restoration to #kelp or #seagrass #conservation.
#ecosystem #MeerMittwoch #sea #oceanConservation #marineEcology #Australia
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We have #seedBanks to archive and protect our #naturalHeritage on land. But more and more #seaLife is endangered globally. Inside Australia's biobanks with their ocean species: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/04/marine-biobanks-protect-ocean-species
"“Less than 1% of historical #reefs remain,” Overton says. “They’re definitely one of the most imperilled marine ecosystems that we have here in Australia.” From #reef restoration to #kelp or #seagrass #conservation.
#ecosystem #MeerMittwoch #sea #oceanConservation #marineEcology #Australia
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We have #seedBanks to archive and protect our #naturalHeritage on land. But more and more #seaLife is endangered globally. Inside Australia's biobanks with their ocean species: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/04/marine-biobanks-protect-ocean-species
"“Less than 1% of historical #reefs remain,” Overton says. “They’re definitely one of the most imperilled marine ecosystems that we have here in Australia.” From #reef restoration to #kelp or #seagrass #conservation.
#ecosystem #MeerMittwoch #sea #oceanConservation #marineEcology #Australia
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#India - Seeds of #Resistance for #FoodSovereignty
April 2017
Excerpt: "Community action-reflection-action processes to identify and analyse the forces that obstruct food sovereignty, and evolve collective transformative actions for food sovereignty is a core practice of our movement. Community food sovereignty plans have emerged as a critical expression of political action.
"Life cycles amongst #adivasi communities, and agriculture cycles in small #farmer peasant and pastoralist communities, along with communities’ indigenous knowledge, provide a framework for the plans. The plans include: democratic governance of resources-land, water, forests, territories, biodiversity, seeds, breeds and knowledge; nurturing life in our soils and growing, consuming and sharing healthy diverse and culturally appropriate food agro-ecologically, asserting seed and animal breed sovereignty through saving and exchange of local seeds and breeds between food farmers; reciprocal systems of sharing labour, knowledge and produce; strengthening local food markets that connect producers and consumers, leading to the diversification and revival of food crops. The alliance enables members to share and exchange seeds across regions, particularly accessing seeds that have disappeared from their region, which they wish to revive. Social justice is central to the idea of food sovereignty, and hence breaking the unjust structures of caste, class and patriarchy are core elements of the movement.
"Intergenerational learning and sharing of knowledge between community elders and youth is an essential strategy. Youth learn from community elders, particularly women, accompanying them as they collect diverse tubers, herbs, fruits and seeds, learning about how to process and store produce, save seeds, establish community seed banks and learn to craft and use local agriculture implements.
"Celebrating the diversity of food, through local festivals, song, dance, theatre, community cooking and other cultural actions, linked to the life cycles and seasonal agricultural calendars, enhance our practice. Campaigns, jatras and food sovereignty summits, community action research on specific questions, sharing our experiences and concerns through mainstream media, popular and academic journals, are other critical strategies to nurture solidarity and collective actions for food sovereignty."
Read more:
https://www.leisaindia.org/seeds-of-resistance-for-food-sovereignty/#SolarPunkSunday #SeedsOfResistance #FoodSovereignty #GenerationalKnowledge #KnowledgeSharing #TraditionalAgriculture #CollectiveAction #CollectiveLearning #SeedBanks #SeedSaving #BioDiversity #FoodIsLife #Agroecology
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Really? That'll be news to the RHS who suggest collecting and sharing seeds from your plants.
They have several ideas on the best ways to collect, store and share seeds.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/grow-with-it/saving-and-sharing-seeds
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🌱 Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Millennium Seed Bank
"Cumbria Wildlife Trust works collaboratively with Kew as part of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, to collect seeds from rare and threatened plant species in Cumbria, supporting both the MSB and the charity’s conservation and nature recovery aims."
https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/news/kews-millennium-seed-bank-celebrates-25-years-collaborative-plant-conservation-partners#SolarPunkSunday #SeedBanks #MSB #Cumbria #CumbriaWildLifeTrust #WildLifeTrusts #MillenniumSeedBank #Kew #Seeds #SeedStorage #Nature
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I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!
Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.
March 17, 2025
"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.
"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.
"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.
" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'
"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.
"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.
" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'
"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.
"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.
"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.
"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.
"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.
" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'
"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).
" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'
"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.
" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”
Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom
"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.
"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.
"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.
" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.
"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.
"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.
" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'
"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.
"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.
" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'
"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.
"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.
" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'
Get involved
"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project
"There are a few options to join the movement.
"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.
"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.
"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.
" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.
Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest
-
I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!
Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.
March 17, 2025
"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.
"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.
"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.
" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'
"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.
"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.
" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'
"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.
"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.
"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.
"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.
"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.
" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'
"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).
" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'
"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.
" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”
Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom
"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.
"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.
"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.
" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.
"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.
"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.
" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'
"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.
"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.
" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'
"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.
"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.
" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'
Get involved
"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project
"There are a few options to join the movement.
"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.
"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.
"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.
" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.
Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest
-
I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!
Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.
March 17, 2025
"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.
"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.
"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.
" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'
"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.
"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.
" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'
"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.
"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.
"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.
"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.
"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.
" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'
"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).
" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'
"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.
" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”
Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom
"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.
"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.
"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.
" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.
"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.
"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.
" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'
"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.
"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.
" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'
"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.
"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.
" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'
Get involved
"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project
"There are a few options to join the movement.
"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.
"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.
"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.
" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.
Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest
-
I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!
Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.
March 17, 2025
"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.
"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.
"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.
" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'
"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.
"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.
" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'
"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.
"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.
"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.
"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.
"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.
" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'
"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).
" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'
"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.
" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”
Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom
"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.
"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.
"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.
" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.
"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.
"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.
" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'
"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.
"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.
" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'
"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.
"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.
" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'
Get involved
"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project
"There are a few options to join the movement.
"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.
"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.
"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.
" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.
Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest
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I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!
Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives
Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.
March 17, 2025
"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.
"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.
"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.
" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'
"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.
"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.
" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'
"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.
"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.
"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.
"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.
"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.
" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'
"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).
" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'
"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.
" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”
Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom
"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.
"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.
"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.
" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.
"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.
"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.
" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'
"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.
"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.
" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'
"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.
"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.
" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'
Get involved
"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project
"There are a few options to join the movement.
"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.
"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.
"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.
" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.
Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest
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Hawaii Public Radio: State’s largest seed bank loses federal funding for online database project. “The Lyon Arboretum’s seed conservation lab was awarded a $250,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services three years ago to digitize its collection of rare Hawaiian seeds. In early April, researchers learned the grant had been terminated. That came after staff from […]
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"In a climate-controlled bunker in an unremarkable building in rural Aberdeen, Idaho, there are shelves upon shelves of meticulously labeled boxes of seed. This vault is home to many of the United States’ more than 62,000 genetically unique lines of wheat, collected over the past 127 years from around the world.
Though dormant, these seeds are alive. But unless they are continually cared for and periodically replanted, the lines will die, along with the millenniums of evolutionary history that they embody.
Since its establishment in 1898, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Plant Germplasm System and the scientists who support it have systematically gathered and maintained the agricultural plant species that undergird our food system in vast collections such as the one in Aberdeen. The collections represent a towering achievement of foresight that food security depends on the availability of diverse plant genetic resources.
In mid-February, Trump administration officials at what has been labeled the Department of Government Efficiency fired some of the highly trained people who do this work. A court order has reinstated them, but it’s unclear when they will be allowed to resume their work. In the meantime, uncertainty around additional staffing and budget cuts, as well as the future of the collections themselves, reigns.
This should unnerve every American who eats. Our food system is only as safe as our ability to respond to the next plant disease or other emergent threat, and a strong N.P.G.S. is central to our preparedness." -
Small Is The New Great! How to fight against the sludge of 2025 - and how the tiniest things can change the world. I would be happy if you can find some hope in my new blogpost: ▶️ https://steadyhq.com/en/naturematchcuts/posts/025f4904-2364-4711-8907-f7e55841993f
You can subscribe for my free newsletter or support my work as a member!
#NatureMatchCuts #biodiversity #grain #seeds #agrobiodiversity #crops #food #FoodSafety #historicSeeds #heirloom #culturalHeritage #seedSavers #seedbanks #farming #histodon #cooperation #hope #blog #BiodiversityShrines
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#Texas: #GreenThumbs, #BookWorms team to create free seed library at #LongviewPublicLibrary
by Jordan Green Mar 6, 2025
"Something seedy is happening at the #Longview #PublicLibrary.
"The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association has partnered with library to create the #SproutAndShare #SeedLibrary, which will allow novice and experienced gardeners alike to pick up free seeds to plant in their own gardens.
The library and gardening association will host a grand opening and educational event at 10:30 a.m. Saturday [yesterday]."A member of the association sprouted the idea for the seed library, according to Shaniqua Davis, agent for the Texas AgriLife Extension Office in Gregg County. The seed library will be open to the public during the library’s operating hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"Leah Shreves, technical services supervisor for the Longview Public Library, said the seed library will help people learn to produce their own food, whether they live in a home or in an apartment."'It’s a way to kind of try and help provide fresh and healthy foods that people can grow on their own to decrease their grocery bill and could also be a relaxing and rewarding hobby,' Shreves said.
"'We’re wanting to give back to the community and give them options and learn that they can grow their own food.'
"The library will have 16 varieties of plant seeds to start with, ranging from green beans and snap peas to watermelon and flower seeds. More than 800 seed packets will be stocked in the library when it opens. Patrons can pick up seven packets per visit. Each packet will have a QR code on it that people can scan, directing them to more information about the plant.
"Master gardeners association members plan to offer at least one educational class per quarter that will be free to the public, Shreves said. During Saturday’s grand opening, gardeners will discuss some of the basics of gardening.
"The library is at 222 W. Cotton St. For more information, call (903) 237-1350."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/91Eav#selection-3227.0-3236.8
#SolarPunkSunday #SeedBanks #SeedLibrary #LongviewTexas #SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule! #SeedSharing #SeedExchange #Gardening #CommunityAgriculture #SeedSharing #FoodSecurity -
#Maine - Making the most of March with #ThompsonFreeLibrary
By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library, February 24, 2025
"March arrives with a built-in tension. The upbeat concept we hold in our minds versus an uncertain reality. Our hope is tinged with a steely resolve to muddle through. 'Winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too,' wrote garden author Jean Hersey. Whether you’re ready to research a spring project or desperately need some escapist fare, the Thompson Free Library in #DoverFoxcroft is here to help you make it through — and even enjoy — this unpredictable month.
"Nothing heralds the coming of spring like our #SeedLibrary! We offer donated seeds from our community and various other donors. If you have extra seeds from previous years that you don’t need, please bring them in to share with your neighbors. If you’re interested in trying a new type of plant or flower in your garden this year, stop in and check out what we have to offer. Over the years we’ve had donations from Burpee, Fedco, Ripley Farms, Helios Horsepower Farms, Bob’s Hardware, and many, many patrons."
Source:
https://observer-me.com/2025/02/24/news/making-the-most-of-march-with-thompson-free-library/Library website:
https://www.thompsonfreelibrary.org/
#SolarPunkSunday #SeedBanks #SeedLibrary #DoverFoxcroftMaine #SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule! #SeedSharing #SeedExchange #Gardening #CommunityAgriculture #SeedSharing #HeirloomSeeds #MaineLibraries -
"For the members of the institute, the most pressing question was how – or if – they could protect the seed bank from their own hunger. The first member of the institute to die of starvation was Vavilov’s former secretary, Pavel Gusev, just two months into the siege..."
Jessie Childs reviews #SimonParkin's #TheForbiddenGardenOfLeningrad
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n02/jessie-childs/resident-bean-expert
#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
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"In 1941, as Nazi forces laid siege to #Leningrad, a group of #SovietBotanists faced an unthinkable choice: eat their life’s work, a rare seed bank, or starve to death. This is the dilemma at the heart of #SimonParkin’s story about the world's first seed bank and its dedicated #botanists."
#EurasianKnot welcomes the author of #TheForbiddenGarden
https://soundcloud.com/euraknot/ek057#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
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"In 1941, as Nazi forces laid siege to #Leningrad, a group of #SovietBotanists faced an unthinkable choice: eat their life’s work, a rare seed bank, or starve to death. This is the dilemma at the heart of #SimonParkin’s story about the world's first seed bank and its dedicated #botanists."
#EurasianKnot welcomes the author of #TheForbiddenGarden
https://soundcloud.com/euraknot/ek057#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
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"In 1941, as Nazi forces laid siege to #Leningrad, a group of #SovietBotanists faced an unthinkable choice: eat their life’s work, a rare seed bank, or starve to death. This is the dilemma at the heart of #SimonParkin’s story about the world's first seed bank and its dedicated #botanists."
#EurasianKnot welcomes the author of #TheForbiddenGarden
https://soundcloud.com/euraknot/ek057#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
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"In 1941, as Nazi forces laid siege to #Leningrad, a group of #SovietBotanists faced an unthinkable choice: eat their life’s work, a rare seed bank, or starve to death. This is the dilemma at the heart of #SimonParkin’s story about the world's first seed bank and its dedicated #botanists."
#EurasianKnot welcomes the author of #TheForbiddenGarden
https://soundcloud.com/euraknot/ek057#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
-
"In 1941, as Nazi forces laid siege to #Leningrad, a group of #SovietBotanists faced an unthinkable choice: eat their life’s work, a rare seed bank, or starve to death. This is the dilemma at the heart of #SimonParkin’s story about the world's first seed bank and its dedicated #botanists."
#EurasianKnot welcomes the author of #TheForbiddenGarden
https://soundcloud.com/euraknot/ek057#SiegeOfLeningrad #WWII #SovietHistory #SovietScience #SeedBanks #biodiversity #NikolaiVavilov #books @bookstodon @histodons
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From 2014: #Diné #FoodSovereignty : A Report on the #NavajoNation Food System and the Case to Rebuild a Self Sufficient Food System for the Diné People
by the Diné Policy Institute, April 2014
#GMO / #GE on the Navajo Nation
"GMO/GE seeds are currently being used on the Navajo Nation by the #NavajoAgricultureProductsIndustry (#NAPI), located near the chapters of #Hogback, #UpperFruitland, and #Shiprock including #GMOCorn purchased from #Monsanto. As the region remains a major agricultural hub for many Diné farmers, the risk of #GMOContamination of Diné crops, particularly corn, is high. Furthermore, NAPI’s production of #alfalfa also utilizes GMO seed, which many Diné livestock owners purchase under the '#NavajoPride' brand, so GMO/GE feed is entering the Navajo Nation food system through NAPI products.
"In terms of Diné cultural perspectives, Diné knowledge holders, elders, and farmers have criticized the practice of GMO/GE by #biotech industries throughout Diné Policy Institute’s research and Food Sovereignty Initiative, stating that these practices are in direct violation of our teachings; of the Diné Fundamental Laws and our relationship and duty with plants and animals, particularly with our relationship with corn, our most sacred plant, and have stated that GMO/GE threatens the Diné way of life. As GMOs/GE pose such a large threat to Diné famers, Diné seeds, and Diné lifeways, and go against our most basic teachings, it is vital that the Navajo Nation and Diné people address both the presence of GMO/GE food and seeds on the Navajo Nation as well the potential future risks of GMO/GE to Diné Agriculture.
Ban on GMO/GE Seeds and #Pesticides on the Navajo Nation
The technologies and legalities of #GeneticModification and #GeneticEngineering are in direct contradiction to Diné Food Sovereignty. The #corporate ownership and control of seeds threaten the future of Diné agriculture; Diné people must control their seeds and agricultural practices in order to rebuild a self-sufficient food system that provides healthy foods for Diné people and also ensures the continuation of Diné agriculture and lifeways. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that Diné people, Farm Boards and Committees, Chapters, and the Navajo Nation move to ban GMO/GE seeds on the Navajo Nation. As GMO/GE seeds are already being used on the Navajo Nation by the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), this will require NAPI to change agricultural practices and policies, and end the purchase and production of GMO/GE crops. Recent State legislations have outlawed the banning of GMO/GE seeds in many counties; counties and states in the United States where people have the authority to ban GMO/GE seeds are becoming increasing rare. Therefore, the Navajo Nation and the Diné people have a unique opportunity to enact what many cannot through an assertion of Diné Sovereignty.
Native Seed Protections
"In addition to banning GMO/GE seeds, the Navajo Nation and Diné people should also consider enacting legal protections for our Diné seeds, to hold biotech corporations accountable for contamination of Diné seeds if this does occur. This is particularly urgent as legislation and court decisions at the state and federal level are making it increasingly difficult to hold biotech companies responsible for the contamination of heritage, heirloom, and non-GMO/GE seeds. One example of this is the '#MonsantoProtectionAct,' a piece of federal legislation.
"Diné people can begin to protect Diné seeds and provide access to heritage, non GMO/GE seeds through the creation of community Seed Banks and Seed Libraries. Seed banks store seeds, while seed libraries allow people to take seeds to grow, provided that they give some seeds back from what they grow after harvest. Diné seed banks and libraries would also provide access to seeds for growers, addressing a concern of famers in the Community Food Assessment – that they didn’t have access to Native seeds. Seed Banks can include state of the art technology, such as that used by #NativeSeedSearch in Tucson, AZ. However, this is not necessary; Diné and other Native people historically stored seeds in clay jars, recent excavations of such seed preservation methods in the Midwest have produced seeds that were able to grow after 800 years. The seed bank in Tesuque Pueblo in New Mexico stores seeds in jars in a dark and cool in-ground cellar.
Education
"GMO/GE ingredients are in the majority of foods that Diné people are eating and GMO/GE seeds are on the Navajo Nation, however, most Diné people are unaware of the existence of these practices. Therefore public education and outreach on genetic modification and genetic engineering for both Diné people and Navajo Nation leadership is needed."
pages 78-79
https://www.dinecollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/dpi-food-sovereignty-report.pdf
#CorporateColonialism #GMOs #BigAg
#EndCapitalism #Colonialism #FoodSecurity #Decolonize #TraditionalFoods
#Capitalism #CulturalGenocide -
Svalbard's Global Seed Vault Banks Biodiversity and Sprouts Controversy
The Arctic facility is the world's largest safeguard for seeds—and fertile ground for critics and conspiracy theories.#conspiracytheories #biodiversity #agriculture #culture #seedbanks #seeds #section-Articles
Svalbard's Global Seed Vault Banks Biodiversity and Sprouts Controversy -
#SeedLibraries Are Sprouting Up Around the Pine Tree State
#Maine libraries have added seed “borrowing” to their growing list of resources.
By Nora Saks, Downeast Magazine, April 2024
"Among the study tables and the stacks of books and the periodical reading rooms, at public libraries from North Berwick to Milbridge to Bangor, seeds have suddenly taken root in the catalog — often quite literally, with the drawers of stately old card catalogs now used for little packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Whether green-thumbed or plain old green, anyone can drop by for some free garden fodder, which is usually donated by community members, Maine seed companies (like #Johnnys and #Fedco), and garden centers.
"Seed libraries took off early in the pandemic, as many people turned their attention to tending their homes and gardens. Now, libraries tend to pair seed lending with how-to programming, often in partnership with local garden clubs. Some libraries also encourage 'borrowers' to save seeds from their crop and then drop them off at the end of the growing season, but that’s not a requirement (and there are no late fees).
"Lisa Ladd, director of Bucksport’s Buck Memorial Library, sees seeds fitting nicely into libraries’ broader mission to make knowledge and resources accessible to the public. 'As libraries continue to evolve, we’re always looking for ways to meet the community outside of our walls and offer programs that touch different ages and all walks of life...'"
More information (including a list of seed libraries):
https://downeast.com/home-and-garden/maine-seed-libraries/#SolarPunkSunday #SeedLibraries #SeedBanks #CommunityAgriculture #BigAg #SeedSharing #HierloomSeeds #MaineLibraries
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Ten Unexpected Things to Check Out at #PublicLibraries
AuthorJuhie Bhatia
October 10, 2024"The first thing that usually comes to mind when people think of public libraries is books. But at many libraries across the country, you can check out so much more than the latest self-help guide, best-selling thriller, or romance novel.
"While books still top the list of borrowed items, most libraries have expanded their offerings to include everything from musical instruments, baking pans, and science kits to sewing machines and board games. These nontraditional materials make up what librarians and others call the 'Library of Things.'
"'The initial concept of a Library of Things came about decades ago. This is an opportunity for libraries to start curating a local collection of items, outside of book materials, based on the local needs of the community,' says Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association. 'It's really to help expand or redefine the concept of a library collection.'
"The Marion Public Library in Iowa, for instance, has a longarm quilting machine. At the Brooklyn Public Library, you can check out vinyl records.
"'There are so many fun things,' says Hohl. 'It helps reduce consumption and waste while enabling residents to borrow items that maybe they don't want to purchase or can't afford to.'
Read more:
https://www.mellon.org/article/ten-unexpected-things-to-check-out-at-public-libraries#PublicLibraries #LibraryOfThings #Tools #ScienceKits #NatureKits #Gardening #SeedBanks #Camping #MusicalInstruments #Cooking
#SolarPunkSunday -
Community #SeedBanks revive diversity in #India’s Kolli Hills
By Tamilarasi Krishnan on 24 September 2024
"Many farmers are now struggling with the high costs of seeds, as the traditional practice of saving a portion of the harvest specifically for seed has largely vanished with the growth of open seed markets. Here, commercially produced varieties offer huge yields but high licensing restrictions, meaning that farmers often cannot save seed as they might have done in the past, because they do not own it.
"Numerous activists, such as the renowned Vandana Shiva, have voiced concerns over the proliferation of private seed banks in India. Shiva argues that seed monopolies could lead to a loss of diversity, increased seed costs, and a rise in chemical use in seed production. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of community seed banks in preserving agricultural diversity and supporting local farmers.
"Despite the dominance of private seed companies, numerous community-based seed banks are now thriving across India, helping farmers to get access to lost varieties without paying high charges. One notable example is the seed bank initiative in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, which demonstrates the potential of local solutions using native seeds to prevent private firms from dominating the local market.
"The Kolli Hills region is home to the Mayalali tribes, who have been cultivating traditional millet varieties with the support of community seed banks. The initiative began in 2009 with the establishment of a single seed bank. Today, there are seven such banks operating across the region. These seed banks have successfully conserved over 20 varieties of millet that had not been previously cultivated for nearly a decade."
#SustainableAgriculture #SeedBanks #SeedSaving #SolarPunkSunday #FoodSecurity #FoodSovereignty #BigAg #PlantDiversity #TraditionalPlantVarieties #NonGMO #HierloomPlants #HierloomSeeds #CommunityAgriculture
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Noah’s arks for fruit trees: How conservation #orchards preserve and boost biodiversity
https://theconversation.com/noahs-arks-for-fruit-trees-how-conservation-orchards-preserve-and-boost-biodiversity-242421"Unlike #SeedBanks, these collections provide immediate access to the necessary materials (pollen, flowers) for crossbreeding in varietal improvement programmes, as well as for #reforestation and the #conservation of wild relatives in #forests. #ConservationOrchards also serve as open-air laboratories to study the response of fruit #trees to #climate conditions and parasite attacks"
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Scientists and naturalists have known about seed banks for a long time, but there is definitely more to be learned. Always
#ClimateChange #Restoration #SeedBanks #GiftLink #Ecosystems
https://wapo.st/3AHfBQ3 -
Godineau et al. show how seed banks can aid evolutionary rescue. Despite increasing the lag, the bank’s storage effect can facilitate persistence by creating stepping stones to new optima and reduce the impact of mutational correlation on adaptation.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/731402 -
https://longnow.org/ideas/to-save-it-eat-it/
Genetic samples from Ukraine's Plant Genetic Resources Bank.
Photograph by Tetyana BrivkoThe #Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Photograph by Frode Ramon
#antimilitarism
#biodiversity #seedbanks #Kharkiv #chernozem #Ukraine #Aleppo
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas #ICARDA
#Syria - #Morocco
#MexicoCity #chinampas -
Parliament wants to ease seed marketing rules for conservation efforts https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/parliament-wants-to-ease-seed-marketing-rules-for-conservation-efforts/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Euroseeds #potatoes #seedbanks #seedconservation
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One of the fun gardening experiments I've indulged in this year involves seeing what dried beans / seeds -- that I love to eat -- will sprout! So far, organic popcorn, dried green Edame soy beans, and lentils have sprouted! And all of them are a few years old!
#HomeGardening #Gardening #Seedbanks #Homesteading -
#Underground #SeedBanks hold promise for ecological #restoration: #Indigenous science is using natural regeneration to restore western ecosystems https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-3/underground-seed-banks-hold-promise-for-ecological-restoration/
"At #LakeLabish, cattails, tule, willows and wapato grew over thousands of years. Farmers erased evidence of the lake above ground, but belowground, decomposed vegetation that extends some 19 feet back in time preserved #seeds and roots, retaining both ecological memory and a possible future."
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Global Crop Diversity Summit held 14 November 2023 in Berlin, Germany
"Stakeholders from around the world gathered to reflect on the current state and future role of agrifood systems in the face interlinked global challenges such as the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, malnutrition, and conflicts. Discussions centered on the role of gene banks, including seed banks, in preserving and restoring crop diversity, with participants reflecting on pathways towards enhanced international cooperation for gene banks and their sustainable funding."
https://enb.iisd.org/global-crop-diversity-summit-2023/highlights-and-images-14Nov2023
#FoodSecurity #CropDiversity #GeneBanks #SeedBanks #ClimateCrisis #BiodiversityLoss
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CW: Gardening/Agriculture & Climate Change
Unpopular opinion:
Old local varieties have little future. 😬 Maybe by moving them all a couple of hundred km north, but our traditional landraces weren't made for this.Ok, maybe in *some* cases, the innate robustness will help them to cope with heat and drought, but we need to work on the issue quick.
(Modern cultivars aren't adapted either, but there is less of a stake in maintaining them in a certain geographical region)
A question to people active in Seedbanks: how are you adapting?
#Gardening #ClimateChangeGarden #ClimateChange #LocalVarieties #Landraces #Seedbanks #OldVarieties #TraditionalVarieties #Horriculture #Agriculture