LEA Seed School Flourishes!

Aug 31, 2023 | BASS, Seed School, Stories from the Field

We held a Seed School with Team LEA Seed School in Capas Tarlac, fueled by our incredible partnership with Good Food Community.

We went hand-in-hand with Good Food Community into the heart of Capas Tarlac, where the seeds of knowledge took root. Fifteen passionate farmers came together, and cultivated an environment where learning nurtures minds young and old. The LEA Seed School was a living testament to the power of collaboration, as we shared insights, stories, and dreams. 

As we celebrated in the shared pursuit of sustainable agriculture, every interaction was a gift. Each budding farmer, each inquisitive mind, added to the community of growth we’re nurturing together. The beauty of our Seed School lies in the bonds we cultivate, in the soil of shared purpose. 

With Team LEA’s energy still dancing in our hearts, we’re reminded that every seed of knowledge we plant today blooms into a brighter tomorrow. We are so honored that our partner farmers at BASS are leading the way at these Seed Schools and inspiring others to become seed savers!

 

We are grateful for our continued collaboration with our partners at Good Food Community and for our shared passion in food sovereignty! As we continue to cultivate these connections and sow the seeds of change, we invite you to join us on this thrilling journey of growth, unity, and transformation.

See more photos taken during our Seed School!

Seeding Success at Philippines Board Meeting and Courtesy Call in Tublay!

Seeding Success at Philippines Board Meeting and Courtesy Call in Tublay!

Jul 4, 2023 | BASS, Other Partners, Uncategorized

We recently convened a momentous meeting with our Philippines board, fueling the seeds of innovation and collaboration! During this vibrant gathering, Hal shared our revised strategic directions and we elected three new board members.

With passionate discussions, strategic planning, and a shared commitment to empowering farming communities, the board meeting laid the foundation for groundbreaking initiatives that will support the growth of our partnerships!

We also had the privilege of connecting with the Mayor of Tublay and Provincial Board Member Atty. Paoad and conducted courtesy calls! Meetings like these open the doors to fruitful collaborations, as we discussed our shared vision for sustainable agriculture and explored ways to support local communities. 

The courtesy call was a significant step towards nurturing partnerships that will sow the seeds of positive change for our partner farmers in the Philippines.

We are thrilled to see our advocacy and work continue to grow and excited for Tublay to be the model Municipality for our Participatory Seed Governance work with BASS and more in the coming years!

GSSP Team & PH Board members

Nurturing Collaborations: GSS Team Tours BASS’ Field Sites

Nurturing Collaborations: GSS Team Tours BASS’ Field Sites

Jul 4, 2023 | BASS, Other Partners, Uncategorized

We recently had the pleasure of reconvening with our cherished partner farmers at the Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS), and it was an absolute delight! Spending time with our partner farmers, learning from their expertise, witnessing their love and care, and building genuine connections have fueled our commitment to creating a more seed sovereign world for our partner farmers in the Philippines. 

The meeting was a vibrant gathering of minds, where powerful seed wisdom was shared and discussed. Coming together with these dedicated farmers, we celebrated the beauty and resilience of traditional seeds, exchanging knowledge that has been passed down through generations.

It is in these moments of connection and collaboration that we truly witness the magic of seed saving, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing this invaluable partnership. 

Seeds have a magical way of bringing us all together and we especially loved that by the end of the day everyone was leaving with more shared knowledge from each other’s farms.

We toured three of our partner farmers operations in Benguet!

The first tour was at Manong Macario’s farm where he shared with us his incredible wealth of knowledge of indigenous and wild crops. 

His farm is tucked back in Shilan, La Trinidad and he has built a diverse and wonderful eco-system with native and high yielding crops.

In this picture, he is holding Konig a root crop that he uses as a rice alternative! He also showed us his traditional seed drying area where the ash from the fire helps dry the seeds.

Manong Mac is a wealth of knowledge and helping preserve many forgotten techniques!

We then toured Annette’s farm, the newly elected President of BASS, who has a lovely oasis of a farm and a vast array of beans being saved and propagated. She and her husband run a beautiful farm tucked away in Daclan, Tublay, Benguet. They spent the pandemic making many improvements to the farm and the work has paid off!

It is a peaceful oasis and beautiful demonstration of a diverse eco-system aptly named Nature Lovers Garden. Annette is a prolific seed saver as well. It was wonderful to see her wide variety of beans being dried during our farm visit and learn about her technique of using ash inside her on farm seed storage jars to prevent pests.

Lastly, we toured Pastor Andrew’s, founding BASS Member farm in which he has built a diverse eco-system in his 200 sq meter lot! He has wild spinach growing everywhere and he explained how tobacco leaves are used as an insect repellent when storing seeds. We all enjoyed some seed foraging at his place! 

In the fields, we witnessed the love and care our partner farmers poured into their farms. Their dedication was evident in every plant, every seed, and every meticulous gesture. From tenderly tending to crops to preserving heirloom seeds, our partner farmers’ commitment to sustainable agriculture was evident. Being surrounded by the veggies of their cultivation, we gained a profound appreciation for the intricate tapestry of life they wove through their hard work and nurturing hands.

Moreover, farm visits provide an opportunity for us to check the progress being made by our partners in seed production and also help build community with our farmers!

Save Seeds. Grow Food. Celebrate Heritage!

GSSP Team Touring Farms

Annette’s Seeds!

Annette’s seeds

Annette’s seeds

Annette’s Farmers Never Quit shirt

Annette with Sherry and Hal

Annette’s farm

Annette’s oasis

Manong Macario

Manong Macario and Hal

Manong Macario

Manong Macario

Manong Macario

Pastor Andrew

Pastor Andrew

Pastor Andrew sharing knowledge

Pastor Andrew’s cultivations

Hal with seeds

Annette’s seeds

Annette’s Farm

Cultivating Connections at our Meet and Greet Event in Baguio with Philippines Executive Director Hal!

Cultivating Connections at our Meet and Greet Event in Baguio with Philippines Executive Director Hal!

Jul 4, 2023 | BASS, Other Partners, Uncategorized

We recently hosted a momentous Meet and Greet event in Baguio with our Philippines Executive Director Hal! We gathered our farmer leaders, friends of the organization, creatives, and more to meet Hal and hear about our plans moving forward.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the Philippines team to express gratitude, strengthen relationships, and discuss future collaborations with our current and future partner farmers! This event was marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to preserving Indigenous seeds and supporting farming communities in the Philippines.

By engaging in open and fruitful discussions, Hal and community members explored avenues for future collaborations, shared insights and experiences, and brainstormed innovative strategies to address the developing challenges in the field of seed sovereignty.

 

One of the highlights of the meet and greet event was leveraging Hal’s expertise and insights. Current and future partner farmers gained valuable perspectives that will shape their future initiatives, projects, and partnerships in the Philippines and beyond!

This meet and greet fostered the many meaningful connections, built trust, and provided a platform for community dialogue – ensuring that our initiatives are aligned with the needs and aspirations of our farming community in the Philippines!

We are grateful to be part of such a vibrant community of supporters here in Baguio/ Benguet and look forward to all the collaborations to come from this support network!

GSSP Team at Meet and Greet

Hal and Sherry

Sherry with BASS Farmers

Hal Smiling Speaking to the Guests

Nellie Ballola, Sherry, Hal

Sherry and Provincial Board Member Atty. Ruben Paoad

Hal Sharing with Guests about Directions

Global Seed Savers and BASS Strengthen the Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Global Seed Savers and BASS Strengthen the Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

May 31, 2023 | BASS, Farmer Features, Other Partners

In a world grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security concerns, the preservation and exchange of traditional seeds have become increasingly crucial. Recognizing the significance of this mission, the GSS recently held a follow-up meeting with our partner organization, the Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS). 

The meeting was a comprehensive endeavor, encompassing the review of BASS’s constitution and by-laws, the election of new officers, the creation of a new strategic plan, and the examination of financial reports. The gathering aimed to reinforce the foundation for sustainable agriculture and advance the joint pursuit of seed conservation.

Help us applaud BASS’ new elected Officers:

President – Annette Sinakay; Vice President – Letty Bisco; Secretary – Agnes Philip; Assistant Secretary – Leona Otas; Treasurer – Agnes Philip; Assistant Treasurer –  Prescila Santiago; Auditor – Jun Bayawa; Assistant Auditor – Conception Sotero; Public Relations Officer – Elizabeth Martin

This follow-up meeting between GSS and BASS marks a significant milestone in our collaborative journey toward preserving traditional seeds and promoting sustainable agriculture. By reviewing BASS’s constitution and by-laws, electing new officers, creating a new strategic plan, and examining financial reports, both organizations have laid a robust foundation for their future endeavors.

With a shared vision, strengthened governance, and a commitment to sustainable practices, Global Seed Savers and BASS are well-positioned to make a profound impact on the conservation of traditional seeds, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of farming communities in the Benguet region and beyond!

BASS members

BASS Members

BASS Members

Visiting Farms and Planting Seeds of Community

Visiting Farms and Planting Seeds of Community

May 2, 2023 | BASS, Farmer Features

Efren Cabbigat, GSS Program Manager, and our partner farmer Fely Damilo (Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS) Treasurer) traveled to many farms and met with a few local government officials in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya to discuss future partnerships! 

This was our follow up program from the Seed School we hosted in Solano in March of this year. Farmer Damilo is committed to organizing opportunities for local farmers and empowering farmer lives. She currently works in and around Bagahabag Solano and led this partnership outreach activity! 

Farmers who attended our Seed School in March of this year also joined Fely and Efren in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya! They traveled to four farms; one in Barangay San Luis, one in Bagahabag, one in Poblacion, and one in Bonifacio. 

They also visited three Local Government Units (LGU); Provincial Agriculture Office in Bayombong and met with Provincial Agriculturist Absalom Baysa, met with a focal person, Ms. Noralyn Busa for Organic Agriculture, and met with the Municipal Agriculture Office, Ms. Shirley Lumicao. 

Touring these farms and meeting with the local government officials is pivotal to our community building and outreach. GSS is rooted in our farmer led programs and community leadership, that is why it is important for us to continue to seek potential partners. 

Officer Shirley Lumicao, at the Municipal Agriculture Office in Solano, spoke of high interest in holding a seed school with the farmer organization that they support. She encouraged the group to include seed education in their upcoming farmer meeting by May. 

One of the farms, Jayson Gundran’s farm, is ready to prepare for a potential seed production area while the other three farms need more land preparation. This is critical to know as they prepare to meet again to discuss further inspirations and methods! 

Efren and Farmer Damilo are currently assessing and exploring Solano to seek more potential Local Government support and partnership. This meeting was an important first step in our goals to establish another seed saving group and eventually a seed library in Solano!

Getting to Jayson Gundran’s farm

Farm of Jason Dundran BONIFACIO

Touring around the area

Efren, Manag Elizabeth, Fely Damilo