Posted 3:07 PM by Luigi
News from Seed Savers' Network

The Seed Savers' Network has a busy month ahead in October. The two-day Local Seed Network Co-ordination Course is running at a discounted price of $30.00 to encourage as many people to attend as possible. The Course on Preparation for Working in Seed Saving and Permaculture Projects is also outlined below.

Course On Coordinating a Local Seed Network

Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th October 2005 at the Seed Centre in Byron Bay, just before our Eighteenth Annual Gathering (22nd to 23rd October) also to be held at Seed Savers (tours of farms and gardens on Friday 21st October).

This is a course for local seed network coordinators and members and those interested in setting up a local seed network. The course aims to help people who have knowledge of gardening and seed saving to successfully establish and run a seed exchange network in their local area. It will have a large practical component in the extensive seed producing gardens at the Seed Centre and in the national seed bank.

TOPICS
Importance of Conserving Food Crop Diversity
Benefits of Local Seed Networks
How to Form a Network
Sourcing Seeds and Planting Material
Keeping Records
Drying and Cleaning Seeds
Testing Seeds
Storing Seeds
Distribution
Promotion of your Network

TEACHERS
Jude and Michel Fanton have had many years experience of running The Seed Savers' Network, a national seed exchange network operating across Australia from The Seed Centre in Byron Bay. Since its inception in 1986, The Seed Savers' Network has had over 7 000 varieties come through the seed bank and over 12 000 people have been or are subscribers to the network. There are now sixty Local Seed Networks around Australia, with several in preparation. Jude and Michel have been teaching seed saving and Permaculture since 1981 in Australia and overseas.

TEACHING STYLE
Participatory and practical with many exercises in thegarden. We will make good use of participants' experience and skills in running seed networks. All past groups have experienced a strong sense of camaraderie and group learning.

INTERESTED?
For the small cost of $30 you will have course handouts, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and the evening meal on Wednesday 19th. Please contact us by September 15th to secure a place.

Course on Preparation for Working in Seed Saving and Permaculture Projects

10-15 October 2005, 8.30am to 4pm and two evenings at Seed Savers' Network Seed Centre, Byron Bay, NSW

TOPICS
Biodiversity, biopiracy and genetic engineering
What genetic resources need preservation
Keeping varieties for posterity, seed production
Selection, processing the seed harvest
Storage, setting up a seed bank
The development scene
Working on development projects
Current project opportunities
Optional practical exercises in the garden

The first three and a half days are on seed saving and there are two and a half days about preparation for and working on Permaculture and seed saving projects.

TEACHERS
Jude and Michel Fanton have worked in Permaculture for 24 years, teaching 18 Design Courses in Australia and overseas. In the last ten years they have initiated seed networks in the Solomon Islands, Cuba and Cambodia and consulted on strategies for preserving traditional varieties in Japan, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Tonga, East Timor, Afghanistan and for ten countries in Africa.T hey have trained a number of young people who have gone to work in the Solomon Islands, India, Japan, Cambodia, Indonesia, East Timor, Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador. They offer what they have learnt from these experiences and nineteen years of running The Seed Savers' Network in Australia to people who have an interest in working overseas or in Australian community projects that could involve seeds and Permaculture. There are also guest lecturers such as aid workers and international activists.

VENUE
Two kilometres south of the Byron Bay Post Office, one acre undulating gardens near the sea which have been designed on Permaculture principles with seed bank, annual garden, food forest, terraces, seed gardens, orchard, chooks and ponds.

ACCOMMODATION
There are many options in Byron Bay including backpacker hostels and a camping ground not far from the Seed Centre. Please ask to be sent a list.

TEACHING STYLE
Participatory and practical with many exercises in the garden and with seeds. All past groups have experienced a strong sense of camaraderie and group learning. Most meals are shared and some cooked together. After 4pm there is an optional practical of one and a half hours in the garden. There will be a research assignment and a presentation required of each participant, either individually or in groups.

PARTICIPANTS
This is a course for people who are willing to work as volunteers or on a local wage on community-based sustainable agriculture projects, particularly those inspired by Permaculture and seed saving. The course aims to help people who have knowledge of horticulture, household food production, environmental management, health, nutrition, etc., to prepare themselves for development work.

INTERESTED?
$420.00AUD includes course handouts, teas, lunches, two evening meals and presentations. Send $100 deposit by August 15th to secure a place.

The Seed Savers' Eighteenth Annual Conference

Theme: The Context and Culture of Seed Saving
22nd to 23rd October 2005 at the Seed Centre in Byron Bay 9am to 4.30pm
$15 per day

Seed Savers' Eighteenth Annual Conference will be at the Seed Centre two kilometres south of the centre of Byron Bay.

We are fortunate to have these people from overseas who will speak on the context and culture of seed saving in their countries:

• Johnson Ladota from Solomon Islands - farmer and organiser in Planting Material Network
• Betty and Atai from East Timor - staff of Permatil, Timor's umbrella Permaculture organisation
• Mara Nieves from Puerto Rico - anti-GE activist who has also worked in Hawaii
• Pablo Ermini from Argentina - agriculturist in urban agriculture, has established a national seed network.

Saturday starts at 9am and Sunday at 9.30am with talks until morning tea, a forum with audience involvement before lunch and practical workshops in the afternoon. Anyone keen to make a presentation, please contact Jude Fanton on jude@seedsavers.net.

There will be an opportunity for seed savers to get to know one another at the musical and social evening Saturday. During the weekend there will be guided tours of the seed gardens.

Seed Savers has a Food Gardens in Schools project with a Resource Kit for teachers. It is seeking further support and case studies of anyone's experience with food gardens in schools. Please let us know if you would like to contribute in any way.

The Seed Savers' Network at PO Box 975, Byron Bay, NSW 2481; T 02 6685 7560,T/F 02 6685 6624; Email info@seedsavers.net. Website: www.seedsavers.net