The Mora Grows Seed Library is now scheduling seed saving classes for 2014: seeds rock!
Beginning Seed Saving:
Story of seeds
Germinating seeds
Selecting seeds
Processing seeds
Keeping seeds
Avoiding cross-pollination
Modern threats to seeds
Seed saving as a business: seed-saving cooperatives
We will also be hosting our annual seed swap on this day: it will be ongoing throughout the day. Bring your best seeds and info(dates, place, growing requirements, etc.), seed tips. Show your wares, and share your homemade salsas, jams, jellies. Connect with others and learn from each other. This will be a potluck! The http://seedbroadcast.org/ folks will be here again, supporting our work, and recording your seed stories!
Marianna Lands and Nicholas Morrow have a presentation for us where they will be sharing tips and techniques for growing food and saving seed at high elevations. They have been growing food and saving seeds for many years in their Cleveland farm, in spite of our short growing season. We are fortunate to have this skill level within our own community.
We will also have a presentation from a member of the Albuquerque Beekeepers: http://abqbeeks.org/ , Raymond Espinoza. He would be helping us imagine successful gardens that attract pollinators by offering observations derived from his experience, as well as his understanding of Langstroth and Topbar beehives. An update on the state of bees and what we can do for them included. He will also be sharing with us the many uses of honey: yum! We are delighted that this is coming to pass, as keeping bees guarantees a bountiful harvest. Raymond is a Mora native, although he has spent the greatest part of his life in Albuquerque. Welcome home, Ray!
Some permaculture tips will be shared at this event: Nalina Uehlein, owner of http://circleoflifeseeds.com/ will be sharing with us how to deal with perennial seeds. She lives in Guadalupita and we are excited to hear what she has to say, as she has just returned from a workshop with one of the great permaculture teachers of the world: Sepp Holzer.
We will be watching the trailer for the movie Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds, by Sean Kaminsky, which will air on Tuesday, April 22nd, at the De Vargas Mall Cinema 6, in Santa Fe, located at 562 N Guadalupe. If you can support this showing, please do so here: http://gathr.us/screening/7599 We need to find 82 more movie-watchers in order for the showing to go through. Our own seed library in Mora is featured on this film. Please visit Sean’s page and encourage him: http://www.opensesamemovie.com/
We are trying to pack this event with relevant info – come ready to take it all in. You’ll have 15 seconds to introduce yourself, your project or dreams: bring business cards, or brochures with any information you are trying to get out there. This is more than a seed-saving event: it is a way to re-connect global community members. We all want to know what you have been up to and how we can support you!
When: Sunday, April 6th
Seed swap: 12:00 – 1:30 pm Ongoing potluck starts at noon- bring a dish! Bring your own china and utensils, please. We are aiming for zero trash – a lofty goal, we know!
Seed saving class: 1:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tea provided: bring a mug!
Where: St. Gertrude’s Parish Hall – Junction of Hwy 518 & Hwy 434, in Mora County, NM
What to bring for class:
-2 wide-mouth glass jars with lids, 1 plastic 1-gallon jug, neck cut off.
-A sense of humor!
How much:
A donation of $10 is welcome: money will go to printing expenses, fresh vegetables for seed-saving practice, and seed packets for library.
Write to moragrows@gmail.com, or call Marleny at (575)758-1782 to register- April 2nd last day. See you there!
“Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance of conformity on all its many fronts.”
― Michael Pollan, Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education
moragrows 
Beautiful photo! Great site. I look forward to this series.