permaculture

[Robyn Williamson <rz.williamson@optusnet.com.au>]

On Saturday, September 11, 2004, at 03:31 am, Lawrence F London, Jr. 
and GlobalCirclenet wrote:

> >  A
> > backyard garden is a magnificent microcosm
> > elegant aesthetics on the cheap.
> >
> > > , but doesn't reach the broader potential of
> > > permaculture to alter industrial agriculture. That may be a difficult
> and
> > Certainly it does; how about 30 million backyard gardens in the US; 
> > think
> > of the
> > potantial to alter industrial agriculture if they were done naturally
> > within permaculture systems.
> >
> > > elusive goal for any author.  On a more positive note, I'm 
> > > encouraged to
> > > see interest in " free peer to peer open source system of 
> > > permaculture
> > > training, knowledge base, & access to resources" from "mIEKAL".
> >
> > That will happen.

It is already happening here in Oz:  The Seed Savers Network of Byron 
Bay provides permaculture-based training, knowledge and access to 
resources for around 60 established Local Seed Networks.  We work as 
volunteers out of community gardens, backyards and lounge rooms across 
the country.  We attend expos, trade shows, exhibitions etc. and give 
talks to local community groups, encouraging people to grow something, 
anything, in their own backyard and to save/share the seeds.  We give 
away, trade or sell our own organically grown, open-pollinated, GE-free 
seeds of food plants.  Whoever controls the seeds, controls the food 
supply and at the moment three-quarters of the global vegetable seed 
market is controlled by 5 seed companies.

As many of you are undoubtedly aware, we have lost 75% of agricultural 
biodiversity in the last century and the genepool continues to shrink 
at the rate of 2.5% per annum (FAO State of the World Report 2000).  
This puts traditional varieties of vegetables amongst the most 
threatened and endangered of all species.

"All the flowers
of all the tomorrows
are in the seeds of today"
[Indian proverb]

It's the same for our food.

This is an SOS to anyone out there - please help to Save Our Seeds.

Best wishes from Robyn

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
PDC, Urban Horticulturist
Hon Sec, Fagan Park Community Eco Garden Committee
Local Seed Network Coordinator
NORTH WESTERN SYDNEY COMMUNITY SEED SAVERS
ph/fx:  (612) 9629 3560
email:  rz.williamson@optusnet.com.au
http://www.communityfoods.com.au
http://www.au.gardenweb.com/directory/fpceg
http://www.seedsavers.net