Top of the North Seed Savers Meeting

Held:

• Date: 5th August 2000
• Time: 11.00am to 5.00pm
• Venue: Koanga Gardens, Maungaturoto

Present:

• Roy Walker and Derek Deeming - Northland Seed Savers Network
• Wendy Klink - Koanga Gardens
• Bryce Palmer - Auckland Seed Exchange
• Roy Shackleton - Waiheke Seed Savers
• Colin Walker - Coromandel Seed Savers

Feedback Received From:

• Soozee McIntyre - Far North Organic Growers Seed Exchange
• Waltraud - Mt Tiger Gardens
• Adrian Grant - Hamilton Seed Savers
• Meg Collins - Eastern Bay of Plenty Seed Savers

Minutes

1. Colin gave an outline of the initiative to establish Seed Savers Aotearoa NZ (SSA). All groups were supportive of the basic concept and the name as proposed. From discussions the consensus was that it would be best to work on a project-by-project basis, with full consultation between groups before any major project is undertaken. All agreed the most useful project to start with is the development of the Seed Register and an associated Website. Full support was given to Top of the South Seed Savers to facilitate the establishment of Seed Savers Aotearoa NZ if the above approach is taken.
2. Colin gave a summary of potential funding sources for establishing Seed Savers Aotearoa NZ, the Seed Register and Website. Support was given for Colin and Bob Corker (Koanga Gardens) to work with Top of the South to achieve the needed funding.
3. Roy Shackleton and Colin offered to produce a Development Strategy & Budget Outline for the Seed Register and Website, which they will forward to the August 12th meeting of Top of the South for consideration.
4. Support was given to the proposal that The Soil & Health Assn of NZ (Inc) (S&H) be the umbrella for any funding applications. The details of this arrangement to be worked out between Top of the South and The Soil & Health Assn.
5. The database structure sent by Top of the South was gone through in detail. It was decided a more basic structure may be better and so an alternative version was developed to be sent to the August 12th meeting of Top of the South for consideration.
6. Discussions were also had on various practical issues regarding saving various types of seed. Bryce offered a number of rare seeds including Whangaparoa Crown Pumpkin to others for growing. Roy Walker was able to find a source of old pea varieties he wanted to grow and everyone was able to look through the Koanga Gardens Seed Bank.