A beautiful booklet produced for Bristol Seed Swap by Jody Cooper.
Seed Saving Leaflet to download
Bristol Seed Swap is part of a global movement of people who recognise seed swapping as an opportunity to share skills, techniques, knowledge, experience, stories, ideas, dreams… it strengthens both our biodiversity and community
Some great websites
Dan Saladino, food journalist, author, and broadcaster, will lead a live discussion with Guardian columnist Alys Fowler and Barny Haughton MBE of Square Food Foundation at #Bristol #SeedSwap on 13th Feb at Trinity Centre They will explore themes from Dan's astonishing new book, ‘Eating to Extinction’, a captivating and wide ranging exploration of some of the thousands of foods around the world that are at risk of being lost forever.
Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../dan-saladino-stories...
Dan will be signing copies of his book ‘Eating to Extinction’ which tells stories of traditional foods from across the globe – from a tiny crimson pear in the west of England to great chunks of fermented sheep meat in the Faroe Islands to an exploding corn in Mexico that might just hold the key to the future of food. Dan meets the pioneering farmers, scientists, cooks, food producers and indigenous communities who are preserving food traditions and fighting for change.
Dan argues that the huge loss of global crop diversity plus dependence on a handful of livestock breeds will leave us, if allowed to continue at full speed, ecologically and culturally destitute and vulnerable to pests, diseases and climate extremes.
This book is particularly significant for #SeedSwap since over the last 50 years, much of the world’s seed has come into the control of just four corporations and the vast majority of our adaptable, resilient strains of locally saved seed have been lost or are highly endangered. Commercially produced seed increasingly favours traits such as uniformity, ease of mechanized harvesting, or suitability for efficient packing and transport. Characteristics such as flavour, and the wide genetic base which enables crops to adapt to a variety of soil conditions are often not prioritised.
Dan Saladino makes programmes about food for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service.
His work has been recognised by the Guild of Food Writers Awards, the Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards, and in America by the James Beard Foundation. Eating to Extinction was awarded the 2019 Jane Grigson Trust Award. Dan lives in Cheltenham but his roots are Sicilian.
Tickets £5 / £2 / or by donation
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../dan-saladino-stories...
How to save seeds from "easy" vegetables and wild flowers Bristol’s well loved permaculture activist, Mike Feingold will be talking about how to save seed and why this is important. Mike has been at the centre of Bristol’s practical permaculture community for many years. He runs a thriving community orchard at Royate Hill, where he also has his own allotment.
Mike teaches on the Shift Bristol permaculture course and co- ordinates large teams of volunteers every year to run practical permaculture areas at festivals including Glastonbury Festival.
He’s also involved in redistributing unwanted food to communities in need across the city.
Mike’s talk will focus on seed saving from ‘easy’ vegetables, as well as saving wild seed. He’ll also touch on the politics of seed saving.
Mark De'Lisser
Often taking inspiration from the natural environment, poet Mark De’Lisser weaves words that explore the ever shifting tides of the human experience.
Born in London and now settled in Bath, Mark has written professional commissions for the Bath Abbey and Roots Allotment, and regularly collaborates with musicians.