Greetings to fellow Gardeners, growers of seeds and seed savers.
You are probably not much into seed saving at the moment since it is spring and like with most aspects of nature, southern hemisphere anyway and particularly with bees, activity is full on. With gardening, planting, preparations, weeding, sometimes watering there are many activities for the life of a gardener or farmer and if that were not enough there seems to be many others things to attend to these days.
Even if you aren't full on saving seeds there is probably still much thought given to it because some consideration has to be given towards growing plants specifically for seed, especially if there is any awareness in having good seed for future distribution.
I'd like to take this time to keep you informed of the development of Seed Savers Aotearoa NZ. Like the growing of seeds and development of plants and new varieties, SSANZ is evolving. Its role is becoming clearer.
I think the nature of seed saving and the need to grow more and really good plants for good seed and all the awarenesss around this is also changing and developing. You'll understand what mean if you receive Koanga Gardens, summer newsletter or visit their web-site, www.koanga.co.nz and read Kay Baxter's latest reports on her trip to USA and on seed saving in general.
The proposed role of SSANZ at this moment seems to be developing into something like this:
For the moment I will co-ordinate SSANZ and will do so until someone else can take over or the nature of SSANZ evolves into something else. At present myself and Colin Walker from Coromandel Seed Savers are exploring ways of creating funding for the role of the co-ordinator's position to support the SSANZ initiative.
All the present work is done in a voluntary way as is all the work any of you do to support seed saving. I am on community wage which I see more these days as just being a service to the community which is what we do in our efforts to grow on and save seeds. I am also looking at getting a little extra financial support from the Nelson environment group to cover some administration costs and provide a top-up of funds.
I feel it is important to the role of co-ordinator that there is support team. Eventually a formal body or board. If any one would like to offer support; I see this as being someone to refer to about any of the administrational or other work that a co-ordinator of such a group may be required to do. If anyone feels inclined to be part of such a group, it doesn't need to be a large group and preferably it could be someone who is connected to e-mail, but this is not absolutely essential. Please can you ask how you may help.
It seems important that there will be annual forums where we seed savers can get together in some physical location to share ideas, seeds and generally have a good time celebrating about what we enjoy doing. There seems to be a tentative plan to hold such a gathering at Koanga after their annual Harvest Festival. This will be on February the 17th 2001.
There seems to be perhaps a need for Koanga and SSANZ to be linked based on Koanga's very integral role already evident in seed saving and seed saving knowledge. At the moment this is unclear but perhaps we will understand more in due course or in the process of a forum next year.
The www.seedsavers.org.nz web-site is still being developed but in future there should be more information on seed saving and a current list of open-pollinated seeds held in NZ seed exchanges.
Since SSANZ is still germinating and need of guidance and support it would be great if you could repond/acknowledge your support or offer any other ideas or growing tips
May the sun shine brightly and warm on upon your gardens and fields,
the rain fall softly and benevolently on your plants
and may your plants, seeds, gardens and you become legendary
in modern times through your great passion and work
in this highly honourable work of growing vegetables and fruits gardens of joy,
that both supports and saves the sanity of the earth and its beings.
For one day gardeners will be honoured more
equally with holy men/women, leaders and Kings/Queens
as they once were!
Have a great spring!
Contact: John Massey
Email: john@seedsavers.org.nz
Phone: 0-3-546 7098
Post: 45A Washington Rd, Nelson