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Planting Seeds of Knowledge!

Mar 29, 2024 | Activities, Farmer Features, Programs, Seed Library, Seed School, Uncategorized

We’re thrilled to share an exciting update from Global Seed Savers, where we’ve been busy planting the seeds of knowledge through our recent programs. In collaboration with the Partnership for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP), we hosted a dynamic two-day workshop on our Community Learning and Awareness on Seed Sovereignty (CLASS) alongside Seed School 1 – Basic Seed Saving Course.

Led by the passionate facilitators Sarah Sabado, Elizabeth Martin, and Ding Fuellos, this two-day training was more than just a workshop; it was a transformative experience! Participants dived into the heart of seed sovereignty, learning not just how to save seeds but why it’s crucial. We explored the beauty of naming and describing seeds within cultural and linguistic contexts, highlighting the importance of these practices in preserving our agricultural heritage.

Our partnership with PIKP has been instrumental in amplifying our impact. Together, we’ve created a nurturing environment where participants can connect with their Indigenous knowledge and local realities, inspiring them to become advocates for sustainable food systems. Our curriculum, divided into three engaging modules, has sparked a newfound passion for seed saving among participants.

In Module 1: Participants gain insights into the local seed situation, seed security, and Indigenous food systems, fostering a connection with their cultural heritage and community practices.

In Module 2: Why Save Seeds?, the focus shifts towards understanding the intrinsic value of seed saving in enhancing crop diversity and ensuring food security.

Module 3: Seed Science equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills essential for effective seed collection, preservation, and sharing, inspiring them to become stewards of agricultural resilience and biodiversity conservation.

From understanding the local seed situation to the science behind seed saving, we’ve supported our community with the tools and knowledge needed to cultivate resilience and promote biodiversity.

Through these initiatives, we aim to not only disseminate knowledge but also inspire action and foster a community of seed savers dedicated to preserving agricultural heritage and ensuring a sustainable future!

Participants

Manang Elizabeth leading the course

Participants

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Whole group at our two-day training

Cultivating Impact through Inventory Innovation!

Mar 6, 2024 | Activities, Farmer Features, Programs, Seed Library, Uncategorized

Global Seed Savers recently embarked on a series of seed inventory initiatives to conduct inventories in Cebu City, Catmon, Aloguinsan, and Babag. Led by Sweetie Maurillo, these efforts are vital in ensuring the availability and effective management of seeds for agricultural purposes among all partner farmers. The inventories serve as benchmarks and facilitate seamless access and optimal utilization of seeds.

Through these initiatives, valuable lessons have been learned about the importance of conducting seed trials and germinating seed stocks to rejuvenate and replenish the inventory, maintaining high-quality seeds in our library. Seeds are not mere items for display or collection; their primary purpose lies in their ability to germinate, grow, and ultimately produce plants. By prioritizing their utility and ensuring they are actively used for cultivation rather than just stored, we maximize their value and potential impact.

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Local policy support is crucial for promoting the conservation of heritage crops, while community engagement fosters collaboration among farmers, policymakers, and stakeholders. Access to resources, such as quality seeds and agricultural inputs, is essential for cultivating heritage crops.

Seed inventory helps in resource planning for future planting seasons by ensuring the availability of a sufficient quantity and variety of seeds, thus promoting crop diversity and resilience. It also helps mitigate risks associated with crop failures, pests, diseases, and unforeseen events, ensuring continuity in agricultural production.

Education, capacity building, and support of farmers in seed production are key aspects to reduce reliance on external seed sources and promote self-sufficiency. Lobbying for government support and funding toward seed-saving initiatives and conservation programs is also essential for long-term sustainability.

We are looking forward to continuing to add to our seed inventory and support our local seed libraries with needed seeds!

Aloguinsan

Dito’s Farm

Aloguinsan

Dito’s Farm Seed Library

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Cafei Seed Labels

Seeds

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Aloguinsan Farm

Cebu City Seeds

Celebrating Progress and Looking Forward: A Message from our CEO and Philippines ED!

Dec 20, 2023 | Announcements, Uncategorized

Sherry Manning, Founder and CEO, Global Seed Savers

Hello Wonderful Global Seed Savers Community-

As the year draws to a close the GSS Team has spent important time in reflection on all that happened this year and looking ahead to our plans and goals for 2024. The theme of 2023 has been transitions and we have had our fair share of those this year. With each change and shift in our team, our internal operations, and our partner expansions, we have been maturing and refining how we execute our work to ensure the greatest impact towards our mission of building food and seed sovereignty across the Philippines.

Transitions can also be disruptive and cause people and organizations to feel uneasy. However, as I have been reflecting on this big year of transitions for us, I have been struck with the reality that GSS is a resilient organization! Just like the seeds our dedicated partner farmers sow and save, we have navigated the changes this year brought and are a better, stronger, and a more focused organization, not in spite of these challenges… but because of them!

In 2024, we will be welcoming two new Philippines Team Members, expanding our partner communities to new regions across the Philippines, and deepening our local policy development through launching our Participatory Seed Governance Program to ensure the preservation of important heritage seeds across the Philippines.

Our mission has never been more essential as the impacts of climate realities continue to threaten our partner communities. Seeds are a simple, but powerful tool to build community, preserve culture, and ensure that all communities can feed their families and sustain their livelihoods with regenerative practices. There is so much to look forward to for GSS and we are grateful to have you in our community!

From all of us at Global Seed Savers we wish you and yours restful and peaceful year end festivities and here’s to all 2024 will bring!

Save Seeds. Grow Food. Celebrate Heritage!

Hal Atienza, Philippines Executive Director, Global Seed Savers

It brings me great pride and pleasure to reflect on our remarkable journey as we close the year 2023. I joined the Global Seed Savers in April of this year, and I am honored to share some of the key milestones we have made as a collective force for positive change.

In collaboration with our dedicated team, our CEO/founder Sherry Manning, and the board members, we successfully facilitated the formulation of our comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. It serves as our roadmap in navigating the challenges ahead and ensuring that our mission to safeguard biodiversity and empower communities through seed saving remains impactful.

A crucial aspect of our progress has been the thorough review and standardization of policies across the key areas, including administration, finance, human resources, and program
management. It not only streamlined our operations, but also fortified the foundation upon which Global Seed Savers stands.

One of our significant accomplishments this year is that we defined our advocacy agenda on seed sovereignty. It focuses on three fundamental elements: seed self-sufficiency, seed
security, and seed justice. Hence, vision-mission statement coins well with our slogan on Save Seed, Grow Food, Celebrate Heritage. It puts to frame our resolve to protect and
promote the rights of the smallholders and family farmers in our seed-saving communities.

In our pursuit of excellence, we’ve implemented stringent protocols for program standards. These include the organizational and fortification efforts within seed-saving communities, a thorough review of seed school modules, and the adoption of the Participatory Seed Governance (PSG), an engagement framework for inclusive policy-making processes for a more meaningful stakeholdership. We are ready to implement our Seeds Inventory and Tracking System (SITS) as a methodical approach to documenting our seed-saving tasks, seed mapping, and seed library management.

As we reflect on these accomplishments, let us acknowledge the collective dedication and passion that each of the members of the Global Seed Savers family has contributed. It is through our shared commitment that we have been able to make such significant strides in a relatively short period.

The challenges ahead may be many, but our spirit is indomitable. Together, we will continue to be champions of seed sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and community empowerment. The seeds we sow today are the harvests of a resilient and flourishing future for the next generation.

To my Global Seed Savers team, partners, and seed-saving communities, thank you for your unwavering support, dedication, and hard work. I wish you all a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with continued success and positive impact.

Let us seed forward in our passion to save seeds, grow food, and celebrate heritage.

GSSP Supports Strategic Planning Sessions for Cebu Seed Savers and Benguet Association of Seed Savers

Dec 14, 2023 | Announcements, Uncategorized

The recent strategic planning session held at the Braveheart Training Center in Argao marked a significant milestone for our initiative. Engaging with the dynamic synergy of Cafei, Pestales, and CONFFFED members alongside dedicated Cebu Seed Savers officers, the event drew together 20 passionate individuals from across 4 cities and 5 municipalities of Cebu Island.

Amidst this collaborative effort, the gathering identified 13 heritage seeds and crops, amplifying our seed diversity beyond the rich varieties in Catmon. The meeting also outlined six pivotal criteria to join the Seed Saving Community, emphasizing home seed libraries, dedicated production areas, meticulous record-keeping, and active community engagement. Excitingly, our potential expansion into areas like Dumanjug, Dalaguete, Camotes, Tuburan, Alegria, and involvement with two schools signals a burgeoning reach for sustainable agriculture.

The Cebu Seed Savers anticipate establishing their own Vision, Mission, Goals, and Strategies, marking an empowering step forward in nurturing a resilient, seed-saving community!

Our strategic planning session with our partners at BASS also shed a light on pivotal past challenges and envisioned a path forward. The officers expressed a collective commitment to growth and change, envisioning a revamped direction for BASS. The focus on establishing clear membership guidelines and setting six essential criteria for active participation not only aims to strengthen the partnership but also aligns with GSSP’s mission to bolster seed stocks for both regular and heirloom seeds. The excitement and dedication seen among BASS members signify a promising future, resonating with our shared vision of community-driven change.

These planning sessions with our partner organizations demonstrate our value in capacity building and support to their farmer led organizations in processes like planning sessions.

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Exploring Growth Through Farm Visits!

Dec 14, 2023 | Activities, Farmer Features, Other Partners, Projects, Seed Library, Stories from the Field, Uncategorized

Our recent visit to Anita’s farm (BASS President) in Daclan, accompanied by Sarah and Manag Elizabeth, was an impactful on-site engagement.

During our time at Anita’s farm, she generously offered her farm as a potential seed production site for GSS. Her eagerness to facilitate GSS’ seed production and interest in joining GSS’ seed production team reflects the transformative impact these farm visits foster. Farm visits not only build partnerships but also serve as a catalyst for community-led initiatives.

Our other recent farm visits to Manang Nora’s Farm in Tili, Shilan; Pastor Jun’s Farm in Ambassador, Tublay; Manong Roger’s Farm in Tudayana, Tublay; and Philip Boaz’s Farm in Talingsuroy, La Trinidad highlights inspiring narratives of community dedication and resilience.

Manang Nora, a new BASS member and practicing organic farmer, showcased her commitment to organic farming by establishing an improvised seed library. Despite the challenging terrain at Pastor Jun’s farm, his dedication was evident. Manong Roger, new BASS member, substantial seed production area and newly initiated seed library reflected a flourishing commitment to seed-saving practices. Philip Boaz family farm focused on select vegetable crops and citrus fruits diverged from seed library practices.

Lastly, our team had an inspiring visit to Carole Domiclong’s seed library in Baguio City. Stepping into Manang Carole’s residence revealed not just a home but a vibrant hub of sustainable practices. Her 30-square meter organic backyard garden doubling as a seed production area exuded dedication and passion for preserving seeds. The sight of her extensive organic seed library, adorned with an impressive collection of regular and heirloom seeds, was a testament to her commitment to seed-saving practices.

Manang Carole’s interest in joining GSSP resonated with our vision, prompting an exciting agreement: a forum slated for March in Baguio, inviting all Baguio-based seed savers. This forum will serve as the launchpad for organizing the Summer Capital Seed Savers, fostering a community-driven movement towards sustainable agriculture and seed sovereignty.

Visiting our partner farmers’ farms and seed libraries cultivates thriving relationships and partnerships which fosters a resilient community dedicated to sustainable agriculture.