A free two part educational event featuring two of New Mexico’s seed experts, Michael Reed (La Orilla Farm, The Permaculture Institute) and Joshua Cravens (Jardin del Alma, project director of the Arid Crop Seed Cache). Both are core members of Save New Mexico Seeds, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Mexico’s heirloom seeds from GE contamination.
A Philosophy of Seeds: Past, Present, and Future.
Venue: Classes will take place at Plants of the Southwest at 6680 4th Street Albuquerque NM 87107.
Date & Time: January 21st from 1:00-3:00 pm:
Michael Reed providing an in-depth discussion focusing on
the following:
“Plants have been domesticating humans for many thousands of years, providing us with food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and beauty. In return, we have cultivated and nurtured them, and brought them with us in our travels across the earth. Seed is the vessel through which this contract has been bound. The basic act of planting a seed creates an immediate link with every human culture that has ever existed, since civilization began. But increasingly the contract is ignored or has been willfully broken, and the intimate dance of humans and plants is under assault.
This talk will include in-depth discussions of the history of human/plant cooperation and coevolution, the real and imminent threats to this partnership (including, but not limited to, GMOs), and very practical suggestions for direct healing action.”
Seed Growing 101
Venue: Classes will take place at Plants of the Southwest at 6680 4th Street Albuquerque NM 87107.
Date & Time: January 28th from 1:00-3:00pm
Joshua Cravens who will focus on Seed Growing 101:
“Organic Seed is the foundation of organic agriculture. However, most growers just purchase their seed and think very little about how important their seed choices are. There is a definite need for many more, knowledgeable organic seed growers to make the organic model sustainable. This workshop will cover many seed related topics such as: isolation distances, the importance of population size, how growing seeds can diversify your harvest, what to look for when buying seed, understanding the difference between hybrids, open pollinated and heirloom varieties, what seed crops grow best in the southwest, along with a step-by-step how to grow and clean seed. Any grower can benefit from this workshop and gain insight into the foundation of our farming systems.”
Seating will be limited so please bring your own chair if possible.
THERE WILL BE TWO WORKSHOPS AT TWO VENUES
1) Seed Saving Workshop with
Joshua Cravens, Project Director for the Arid Crop Seed Cache
-A Project of Cuatro Puertas-
WHEN: October 16th, 2010 , 10:30 am – 12:30pm
WHERE: Hubble House, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque , NM 87105-6631(MAP)
FREE EVENT but need to register.
“Learn what you need to know to confidently grow seed on a commercial level or as a backyard gardener. This in-depth workshop will provide details far beyond just planting and ha
rvest. Learn about topics such as: isolation distances, population minimums, importance of variety maintenance, seed cleaning techniques, crop specific tips and much more. “
REGISTRATION: Contact Valerie at: vhermanson@bernco.gov, Phone: 505-314-0398
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2) Seed Saving Workshop with
Joshua Cravens, Project Director for the Arid Crop Seed Cache
WHEN: Saturday October 16th, 2010, 3:00 PM
WHERE: 410 Atrisco NW Albuquerque, NM 87105(MAP), Just north of Central
FREE EVENT but need to register.
This is our last workshop of the season. We will cover seed saving basics, with lots of hands on examples as well as more advanced techniques such as saving seed from biennials.
Why Save Seed
How to Save, Clean and Store Seed
Saving Seed from Biennials
Biennial plants are ones that go to seed during their second growing season, usually in the spring. Some example of biennial plants are parsnips, carrots, cole plants (cabbage, brussel sprouts, turnips, kale and so on), celery and celery root (celeriac), parsley, beets and swiss chard. Come learn tips on how to best save seeds from your biennials.
Hope to see you there!!
REGISTRATION : FREE, please email Sarah: sarah@gardensedge.org
Date: August 17th, 2010 10am – 2pm
Location: San Ignacio
Church, Monticello Plaza,
Monticello, NM (Click for MAP)
A free lunch made from local ingredients will be shared in the Plaza at noon.
Learn all that you need to know to confidently grow seed on a commercial
level or as a backyard gardener. This in-depth workshop will provide
details far beyond just planting and harvest, while showing an example of
a working local farm, Jardin del Alma. This workshop will include topics
such as: isolation distances, population minimums, importance of variety
maintenance, seed cleaning techniques and crop specific tips.
Space limited to 50 participants.
Click here to pre-registration online
You must preregister for this free workshop by July 17th, 2010.
This workshop is being presented in collaboration with: Cuatro Puertas, Organic Seed
Alliance, and Family Farmers Seed Coop. Funded by a USDA Rural Development Grant.
Click for Flier
The Garden’s Edge
Food, Seeds, Culture
SEED SAVING WORKSHOP – Sunday June 13th
Open your eyes to the wonders of Seed Saving..
410 Atrisco NW 87105 north of Central
10:30 to 12:30
Bring a dish to share for lunch (optional)
Seeds First of 3 workshops on Seed Saving
Workshop 1
Basics of Seed Saving
Site Selection (Pests and challenges)
Ground Prep
Spacing
Watering and Basic Care
Workshop Series
The majority of the workshops will be taught by Joshua Cravens from Jardin del Alma in Monticello New Mexico south of Socorro. Joshua manages the Arid Crop Seed Catche (a project of Cuatro Puertas). These workshops are for farmers or gardeners who are interested in learning about seed saving for your own farm, or for farmers who are interested in growing seeds for the Arid Crop Seed Cache to generate more farm income or protect New Mexican heritage crops.
Workshop Information:
Held throughout the 2010 and 2011 growing season these three workshops will take you through all aspects of seed saving: planting, pollinators, isolation, harvesting, drying, fermenting, cleaning, and storing.
There will be a special focus on saving seed from root crops: seed to seed method, seed to root to seed method, beneficials brought to gardens, trials etc.
This workshop is sponsored by The Garden’s Edge, please call or email sarah@gardensedge.org to RSVP or for more information.
www.gardensedge.org