Press release from Sow True Seed:
Bountiful Cities, Sow True Seed, Slow Food Asheville, Organic Growers School, Southern Seed Exchange, Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies, ABFPC Resilience Cluster, and Southern Seed Legacy, in partnership with UNCA, are excited to present a regional Seed Swap to honor Dr. Vandana Shiva’s visit to Asheville!
Shiva is spending three days in Asheville on a lecture tour organized by UNC Asheville. She is a powerful voice on the side of the small farmer, and has campaigned throughout her career for sovereign seed and secure food systems.
The Seed Swap, which will take place at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, is intended to celebrate local diversity and offer Shiva a glimpse of WNC’s regional seeds and stories. Seed saving is culturally and ecologically important, and nothing honors that more than a traditional seed swap.
“Seed swaps are a fantastic opportunity for a community to share seeds, explore new varieties and strengthen our food systems.” says Chris Smith, Sow True Seed Community Coordinator. “This event is a chance to really shout about our regional seed heritage.”
The event honors the hard work of seed savers by being mindful and respectful of their craft. Everybody, from total beginners to experts, is welcome and encouraged to attend. Participants without seeds to swap are asked to bring small denomination cash to support the region’s seed savers with suggested donations.
“We hope that this event can become an annual seed exchange and that every year more and more people will have seeds to swap,” says Carolina Arias, Bountiful Cities Garden Network Coordinator.
To further that aim, the event will include seed saving demonstrations and workshops. There will also be plenty of seed saving experts willing to share their knowledge, not to mention the presence of Vandana Shiva; seed enlightenment through osmosis is anticipated but not guaranteed.
“Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being.” ~Vandana Shiva
Seed savers with lots of seeds to offer can reserve a table by emailing carolina@bountifulcities.org, but there will also be space for smaller direct trading and swapping.
Join the seed swap with Vandana Shiva on Oct 17 2017, 3-7PM at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue. Admission is free and open to all.
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