Mora Seed Swap. SEEDS-The Local Revolution.

Here is a repost of the Seedbroadcast folks’ account of the seed exchange, and beginner seed saving class. I could not have said it better myself!

Please consider attending the premiere of Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds movie:http://www.meetup.com/New-Mexico-Conscious-Movies/events/171013372/  Our own seed library is featured!

 I appear dead before I am alive

Although often quite small, inside my skin a tree can live

I can survive hundreds of years without food or water

I can be as small as dust or as large as a foot ball

Humans and animals eat me
I can fly, swim and hitch a ride

I can survive freezing, fires and intense droughts.

                                                                                                                 What am I?

High Elevation Corn donated by Bevan Williams, of Rocky Mountain Seed Source

The 2nd Annual Seed Swap and Gathering was held on April 6th, 2014, at the St Gertrude Parish Hall in the center of the small but vibrant village of Mora, New Mexico.  It was one of those spring days with flurries of snow and cold winds but the local community brought a warmth and resilience into their gathering place by the sharing of precious seeds, local wisdom, food and gratitude.

After Sunday morning church services people slowly arrived with their carefully hand-packaged seeds, food to share and knowledge. The day was convened by Marleny Alfaro of Mora Grows Seed Library https://moragrows.wordpress.com and Rodger Gonzales of Los de Mora Local Growers’ Cooperative. Marleny is a native of the island of Cuba and has land she and her family farm in Mora. Roger is a native of Mora, is the president of Los de Mora, and is a mover and shaker in his home community.

Marleny and Roger lead an opening to evoke into the room each of the 50 or so community voices.  We heard from bee keepers, cattle growers, community members wanting to learn a new sustainable way to live their lives, a young couple from Cleveland, who have started a small company to promote healthy living in their village, from Casa de Cultura http://www.casadeculturalvnm.org/ about anupcoming Las Vegas Seed Exchange, from Small Family Farm and about new food growing initiatives for Mora County.

The Mora County watershed includes forested uplands, pasture lands and lowland valleys with a high water table that have been utilized for traditional agricultural practices. So this highlands valley has a history of growing and was at one time in the early1900’s known as “the bread basket of New Mexico” for its unique variety of wheat.  The present day community came together to sit with this historical knowledge and looked to the future of contemporary growing practices with a collaborative vision.

Throughout the day there were discussions, informative workshops on the importance of bee keeping, seed-saving, soil conservation, use of hand tools, permaculture and encouragement to support the re-emergence of a local economically viable growing community. The Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station was parked outside the parish hall and became the educational attraction for the younger participants.

Marleny opened her presentation on seed-saving with a loud and clear voice,  “Seed-saving is one of the most important things we can do. To encourage a new economy we must think from a seeds perspective.”The Mora County Community is surely doing this by looking towards each other to learn, to collaborate and to share. They are holding the seed of their dreams and listening. They are making waves and taking action. They are forming cooperatives, they are planning a new main street, successfully fighting fracking and they are making a difference.

We can all learn from this unique New Mexican Community. To listen to unique seed stories, please visit: http://seedbroadcast.blogspot.com/2014/04/seeds-local-revolution-mora-seed-swap.html

Mora Grows Seed Library Kickoff

Mora Grows Seed Library Kickoff

“Everything – but everything – on Earth, every blade of grass,
every insect, has been created for Man*”
– Anastasia.

Could this be true? If it is, what does it mean to become true stewards of the precious gift that is the Earth? Come and let us explore these questions together!

Come one, come all! March 23rd looks really promising! Your are cordially invited to the Mora Grows Seed Library opening: bring your favorite organic, heirloom, and native seeds to share. Don’t forget to include information with your seed envelopes: where did you obtain the initial seed stock, was it grown organically, dates, and all the other fun facts that make a seed’s life interesting. Tell us your seed story!

Where: Tapetes de Lana is located on the corner of HWY 518 & HWY 434, in Mora, NM. Tapetes is the local wool mill, and co-op for artists, weavers, potters, and much more. Teas and coffee are served in their recently born Coffee Barn. Their phone number: (575) 387-2247. Visit their website:http://moravalleyspinningmill.com/tapetes_de_lana/ for more information. Tapetes’ gallery features local weavings, rugs, paintings, photographs, post cards, soaps, salves, body butter, crocheted items, knitted items, scarves, hats, bini’s, purses, pottery, jewelry, retablos, butos, crosses, candles, New Mexican salsa, local jellies, and much more! They offer a 40% factory discount on all in-stock fiber, yarn, warp, and roving.

The folks from seedbroadcast.org will be at the library kickoff, filming, and interviewing. Come see their retrofitted bread van: a mobile seed library!

Ancient seed planting techniques will be shared: ancient civilizations knew how to transfer their DNA to a seed, sharing their bodily makeup with it, the seed in turn would alter its own genetic makeup in order to produce the chemicals and nutrients needed by the person who planted it. Scientist Barbara McClintock, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1983, discovered transposable elements in plants, commonly known as “jumping genes”: a plant’s ability to alter itself, a response to surrounding information. Come and learn how to do it at home: your plants will develop the medicine that is right for you, healing your body!

We will have a potluck for those who wish to stay after the seed exchange, to share and learn from each other. Some food and drinks will be provided by the organizers of the event. We are urging any artists, artisans, or small business owners to bring their wares – let us know who you are and what you do in the world! Bring your business cards, catalogs, and fliers – come prepared to talk about your intentions and dreams.

Enjoy a brief introduction to GMO (genetically modified organisms) and the ravages associated with this pervasive technology. Learn what you can do to protect yourself, your seeds, and your neighborhood.

9 – 11 am: Orientation and seed exchange.
11 – 11:30: Showing of wares, sharing of information.
11:30 – 12:30: Potluck – bring a dish if you feel inspired to do so.
12:30 – Showing Genetic Roulette movie, by Jeffrey Smith. Learn more about his work at:http://www.seedsofdeception.com/

Watch the movie trailer:

“In exposing the bullying and deceit of the biotech industry, Jeffrey Smith’s mesmerizing film shines a bright light of hope that we can reclaim our health and our food systems. Meticulously documented, thoroughly comprehensive, and rivetingly presented, this is more than an adventure story with intense drama and high stakes. It is in fact one of the most important stories ever told. Watch it and be galvanized, inspired, and engaged. Then tell everyone you know.”

– John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America, Founder and Board Chair Emeritus of EarthSave International
http://http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

*The word “Man” is translated from the Russian, where “Man” is the same as “human being” Find out more about these revealing, and deeply healing books at: http://ringingcedars.com/

Watch this super-short video put out by California actors, addressing Proposition 37: an attempt to label GMO foods.