Auckland Seed Savers

Newsletters

Overview

This group has been formed by interested home gardeners, to find and grow various types of plants and vegetables, which arrived into this green country of ours with our forefathers. We have been quite successful in finding many of these, from the gardens of older members of our families, as well as other seed saver groups and have then grown these vegetables and plants, to provide seed and pass on to our members for bulking-up our seed bank. This allows us to be able to serve up on our table some of the produce that has better flavour and taste, than food that has been hybridized and grown with lots of chemicals.

Objectives

To find, record, grow and distribute locally adapted non-hybrid, GE-free seeds, particularly of vegetables, fruit and herbs as well as plants that are propagated by tubers, cuttings, rhizomes, bulbs etc.
To promote and distribute propagatable material of plants that help in developing a healthy garden, such as plants attracting predator insects or soil building plants.
To adapt new varieties to local conditions.
To find, record and grow varieties suited to Auckland conditions.
To promote the practice of seed saving and the importance of conserving diversity in our food crops.
To support other local seed networks by sharing knowledge, skills, seeds and plant material.

Guidelines

The group will:

Focus plant conservation efforts on open pollinated vegetable seeds and other culinary plants.
Refrain from illegal or restricted plants.
Establish and run the group as a non-profit organisation so that any revenue generated by our activities is directed back into our network and not distributed amongst members.
Keep in regular contact with other seed saving groups.

Membership

Any person or organisation interested in fostering the objectives of the society shall be eligible for membership.
That membership fees shall be $15 per annum for ordinary members and $20 for a family group.
All people attending a seed swap meeting would be asked for a gold coin donation to help with costs of keeping the seed bank and packaging of the seeds.
The seed bank is held at the Auckland Regional Botanical Gardens and is administered by one of the committee members.

Contact Details

Contact: Kathrina Muller
Email: saimuller@paradise.net.nz
Phone: 09 267 1260
Post: 12 Lemonwood Place, Manurewa, Auckland