Saturday, May 30, 2015

NEWS: West Bengal to develop 32 organic villages

 IANS | May 30, 2015, 10.54 PM ISTTimes Of India
 
KOLKATA: To boost organic farming in West Bengal, the state government will soon start work on developing 32 organic villages, agriculture minister Purnendu Bose said here on Saturday.

"This year we are targeting 32 organic villages in various districts such as Nadia, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and others. We will develop certain villages as organic villages in these districts," Bose told the media here.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the "ONganic" store which primarily stocks organically-grown and indigenous rice and rice-based products, millets, pulses, dairy products and spices. It is an initiative by NGO "Switch ON".

"We will coordinate with NGOs and other co-operatives to foster organic farming in these villages," Bose added.
 


EVENT : Beyond! Organic Farming Course conducted by Deepak Suchde

Using technique & approach of Natueco Science & Philosophy
as practiced & learnt from Late Shri S.A. Dabholkarji.

Natueco Farming tries to establish the dignity of farming, to prove that farming doesn’t need to be dependent on any external inputs of fertilizers, pesticides and expensive seeds to show results of extraordinary quality and quantity.

Natueco Farming follows the principles of eco-system networking of nature. It is different from organic or natural farming both in philosophy and practice. It emphasizes harvesting the sun through a critical application of scientific inquiries & experiments that are rooted in the neighborhoods resources. It depends on developing a thorough understanding of plant physiology, plant geometry of growth, plant fertility and plant biochemistry.

 


with Yoga & Meditation classes

Conducted by certified Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre instructor Beata using very safe & therapeutic teaching approach of yogacharya Sharat Arora (Anand Sagar), Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre and Himalaya Shanti Ashram founder, who during 37 years  experience of self-practice, teaching and healing has very much deepened his understanding of Yoga & Meditation as well as brought a big input into the Guruji's B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga.

The Yoga & Meditation part of the Course, immerses the participant into the essence of this science, teaching both its aspects, philosophical as well as practical. It is a study of corrective, rejuvenating / energizing and relaxing / meditative postures. Student learns everything that is needed to maintain a regular self-practice independently. Those with ailments are given specific therapeutic attention and guidelines. The Course provides a fundamental framework and inspires one to explore deeper within. The Course is informative, motivational and, above all, experiential, where students feels everything in his/her own body.

30 May to 7 June 2015
Eco Retreat for Yoga, Meditation and Healing
Village Manyana, Dharamsala, (H.P.) India 


We will be serving Vegan Food to enhance better learning

1. Overview

What is Natueco Science?

·         Beyond Organic…. Beyond Farming…!

·         A program for Inner & Outer Abundance & Joy in our Life !

·         Networking the Outer Sun can bring
Self-Sufficiency & Freedom from Needs.
·         Networking our Inner Sun can unleash
Our True Potential and Freedom from Greed.
Gandhiji said,
“We choose to live simply, so that others may simply live."
2. Aim

This Course is suitable for all the individuals interested in a responsible, aware living, for small landholders or garden-holders who would like to become self-sustainable in the production of the food & growing the plants without using fertilisers, pesticides, pollutants and toxins, respecting the Mother Nature and not destroying it. The Course will consist of both - practical & theoretical teachings - but emphasising especially on the practical aspects such as pruning, seed treatment, root treatment, grafting, using the Natueco Science & Philosophy approach as well as respecting the Farming Calendar from Indian Panchang.
Deepak Suchde strongly believes that the type of non-commercial farming for self-sufficiency is possible if a person is SPIRITUALLY inclined. For him, it is not just a Farming, it is a Lifestyle. And in this Course he will share his experiences with us. We will learn how to build fertile living soil “Amrut Mitti”, we will understand our complex relationship and exchange with Nature, that leads to an awakening of our spiritual potential. He says: ”The way we eat determines the way we live and the way we farm; food production represents our relationship with the Earth. If this relationship is free from exploitation and cruelty to animals and the Earth, it positively affects the content of our minds and our lives.” Some has said Give me soil of Nation I will tell health of Nation.
Start becoming the change you want to see in the World!

3. Description of the Place

The Course will take place in the beautiful Himalaya Shanti Ashram, a mountain retreat specializing in the healing power of Yoga and Meditation as well as sustaining our Environmental Awareness. Located on the banks of a sparkling clear river, receiving its water from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, all surrounded by forests and tucked away from the industrial development. It is a true paradise, bringing about quietness and peacefulness unknown in most of the World. Natural dwelling facilities and accommodations provide all that is needed for intensive Yoga and Meditation practice as well as Organic Farming.

4. Biography of Deepak Suchde

Deepak Suchde is an Indian Natueco Farming practitioner, social activist and farmer. Born in 1949 in Mumbai and brought up in a Gandhian family, since childhood he had an inclination to work for society and for the environmental issues. His commitment to Natueco Farming comes from his vision to bring collective consciousness to work in harmony with Nature leading to prosperity for the whole Eco-System.

Currently Deepak Suchde is a visionary and perpetrator of Natueco Farming Lifestyle, Krushi Teerth, Malpani Trust, since 2006, adviser to task force on Organic Farming for Madhya Pradesh since 2009, Non-Government Member of Biodiversity Board of Madhya Pradesh 2012-15.

Since 1995 he is serving voluntarily the Natueco Farming movement for PRAYOGPARIWAR, India, he is consultant for Yusuf Meherally Center for Natueco Science providing training to farmers since 1978.

He presented and participated in number of events related to Organic Farming and Natueco Farming at regional, national and at international level. He conducted many workshops and trainings programmed for Sustainable Agriculture, organized courses and workshops about bringing awareness for organic food and vegetables, about Prosperity on Living Soil, vermicompose, Earthworm culture, Health, Self-help employment, Village community development, Relationship between Agriculture and Water, Pruning, Terrace farming for farmers and other audience. He presented paper at IFOAM 2000 at Zurich, Switzerland 2000 - Role of Nature in Soil Management and Quality and he is mentioned in India Book of Records “Excellence in Environmental Science” 2013.

Since the 70's he was in charge of many pioneer projects in India, such as Nature Cure Center, marketing village products, Water Shed project, Ten Guntha project, organized Ganga Maa Mandal base Permaculture courses, he was promoter of a Company STEER Foundation (Spiritual Training Education Enlightenment Research Foundation), providing training at International level.

He has also written some books and papers on Natueco Science, papers on his talks about Collective Consciousness from the Wholesome World Conference in Geneva 2012, paper on Spiritual Farming, paper on a Sustainable Model for Agricultural Development, paper on a Role of Nature in Soil Management and Quality, IFOAM 2000, Zurich 2000, paper on Soil Rejuvenation by Natueco Science, 2013. Also some DVD-s of his work & teachings were published, i.e. Amrut Mitti, Amrut Jal, Ten Guntha, Ganga Maa Mandal, Root Treatment, Seed Treatment.

5. Biography of yogacharya Sharat Arora (Anand Sagar)

Sharat Arora (Anand Sagar) was born in 1953 and discovered Yoga in 1978. He went through intensive, full-time traininf for over 6 years with Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Institute in Pune. Already after 3 months, Guruji allowed him to assist his classes on all levels. Everyday hours of practice, permitted Sharat Arora to understand in his own body all the asanas and props that B.K.S. Iyengar was showing. However what woke up a special attention in Sharat Arora was the therapy sessions for the people who were coming to the Pune Institute to heal themselves. Seeing how Guruji didn’t deny a help to anyone, serving countless patients even in the most difficult health cases with which western medicine couldn’t deal, he understood his great compassion towards all the people. For that reason, he was like a father to him, the dearest teacher giving an excellent example. So that he could bring help to all of those, who needed guidance in healing their body and soul, Sharat Arora decided to dedicate his life to yoga. His involvement in the Yoga therapy was very significant in his development as a practitioner and teacher. His fusion of this experience and extensive study of Western as well as Ayurvedic medicine, greatly influenced his continually-evolving Yoga technique and sharpened his unique Yoga therapy skills. In following years, his indescribable source of inspiration were: Vipassana meditation practice conducted by Goenkaji himself as well as the enlightened spiritual teachers: Krishnamurti, Ramana Maharshi and Poonjaji or “Papaji” the “Dearest Father” as he used to be called lovingly by his dedicated students. A most significant spiritual transformation Sharat Arora went through in the presence of Poonjaji’s light of love. He had that opportunity to learn from him personally, and even had permission to conduct the yoga classes in his Satsang Bhavan. During 37 years  experience of self-practice, teaching and healing, Sharat Arora very much deepened his yoga understanding as well as brought a big input into the B.K.S. Iyengar method.
Sharat Arora clear and precise instructions, constant and detailed attentiveness, focus on providing students with the tools to practice and explore independently, and therapeutic knowledge for treating ailments and injuries, are combined with a spiritual depth that makes his instruction unique.

6. Biography of Beata - certified Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre teacher

Beata Steć-Stańczyk for the first time had a contact with yoga and eastern philosophy in 2005, after that she continued her yoga studies in traditional BKS Iyengar style in Warsaw. In 2009 she went to India to study yoga with yogacharya Sharat Arora at the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre to deepen her experience of the universal wisdom of spiritual practice and meditational silence. During that time she continued intensive self-practice, participated in all the most important courses conducted by yogacharya Sharat Arora, as well as completed 6 consequent teachers training courses conducted by him. Under his kind guidance each intensive yoga course was a very deep experience of awakening the body intelligence and creating of inner spaces. Since April 2011, accordingly to yogacharya Sharat Arora request, she started to teach yoga at the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre as well as in the Himalaya Shanti Ashram in India and in the summer times to conduct the international yoga workshops abroad to share how fully aware and harmoniously practiced Yoga Asanas influence not only our body, but also create a deeper, full of acceptance relationship to the Inner Self as well as to all the surrounding world.

7. Schedule of the Course

6.00 to 9.00 am – Yoga Class
9.00 to 9.30 am – Breakfast 
9.30 am to 12.30 pm – Farming Class
12.30 to 1.00 pm – Break for Shower or Swim in the River
1.00 to 1.30 pm – Lunch
1.30 to 2.30 pm – Free time/ Rest / Siesta
2.30 to 4.30 –  Farming class
4.30 to 4.45 pm – Tea break
4.45 to 6.00 pm – Farming class
6.00 to 7.00 pm – Free time
7.00 to 7.30 pm - Dinner
7.30 to 8.15 pm – Circle of sharing Pop Up Style.
8.15 to 9.00 pm – Video/Movie
9.00 to 9.15 pm – Tea
9.15 to 10.00 pm – Meditation
10.00 pm - Lights Off / Sleep Time

8. Fees

Course Fee : 15,000 INR
(For Indian citizens we offer 30% discount and for Himachal Pradesh citizens 50% discount from the Course Fee)

The Food & Accommodation has to be covered fully.
Food : 3,500 INR
Accommodation : upon room type of your choice :

ACCOMMODATION AT THE HIMALAYA SHANTI ASHRAM :
Sharing with 2 single beds – 280 and 230 *
Sharing with 2 single beds attached toilet/shower – 330 and 280 *
Single occupation – 450
Single occupation swinging bed – 500
Single occupation attached toilet/shower – 550
Single occupation attached large toilet/shower (room no 1) – 600
Extra large room toilet and bathroom (with kitchenette) 2 persons or family with kids – 1400
* for those sharing a room, downstairs is more expensive than the attic upstairs.
* the rooms will be distributed at place as we know the final number of participants

9. Booking

Number of participants is limited - to ensure the place on the Course the booking has to be done in advance by sending the advance payment.

For more information about the booking & payment please contact us at : info@himalayashantiashram.org

10. Participants feedbacks from the Deepak Suchde courses

Namaste Deepak Baba, thank you very much for your kindness and hospitality. I have had a great time with the other volunteers and yourself and son and was very happy to do the work and learn new concepts that I hadn’t come across before. It has given me the ability to go home and try out Amrut Mitti for myself and suggest this way of farming to others.

I feel I have gained knowledge from being here and am looking forward to going home and testing it for myself and finding ways in which I could make it work in Wales. I am sure that when I one day start an eco community I will need to look more deeply into all of these concepts but I have gained a brief understanding that he only way I feel I can learn more is by doing it myself. 

OLIVIA M REYNOLDS, WALES, UK
Namaste Baba. It had been a great experience spending two fruitful months at such divine place. I learnt about Natueco Science and loved its way of farming. Concepts are very deep researched and easy to understand. And the way Deepak Baba explains, it directly fits into the mind. Now I am convinced that Farming is the best profession in the world. It provides prosperity along with freedom, relationship, belongingness and many more benefits.
I am going to explain all these things to farmers in my village and I know that it will definitely improve their situation. Many of them do not know at all about organic farming so I would like to implement it in my nearby area. Whatever I have learnt in this memorable two months will be utilized properly only if reaches to the farmers.
At this age, the energy he has is wonderful and the work he is doing is amazing. I salute you for providing such good knowledge about farming to the country and even to the world.
I spent two months with full enjoyment and lived like I was at home. I would like to conclude by saying that I was lucky to have such great opportunity to learn about Natueco and I am thankful to Baba for converting this opportunity into a fruitful exercise.
Thank you, Take Care of Vatsal Bhaiya and yourself
DEEPAK GOYAL, INDIA


Himalaya Shanti Ashram (HISHA)
Village Manyana, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, North India
 &

Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre (HIYC)
Village Dharamkot, Dharamsala, 176219, Himachal Pradesh, North India
Winter Centre : Madhlo Vaddo, Arambol, 403524, North Goa

Please visit our websites: www.hiyogacentre.com and www.himalayashantiashram.org
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Friday, May 29, 2015

EVENT : Adhirengam Paddy Festival on 30-31 May 2015

Dear friend,

Greetings from the Save our Rice Campaign !

Please see the invite to the Adhirengam Paddy Festival. Its one of the largest coming together of farmers - especially seed savers and organic farmers in Tamilnadu. Farmers from other states are also invited. Last year about 4000 farmers came to collect and share about 150 indigenous varieties. This festival has been instrumental in thousands of paddy farmers in Tamilnadu now cultivating traditional varieties of paddy.

EVENT : Seed & Plant Festival 31 May 2015 at IIT Powai, Mumbai










































OPEN TO ALL. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.  

NEWS: Organic matter matters

May 2015: The key ingredient for healthy soils and healthy crops is soil organic matter. But it has been neglected in recent decades. How could we have forgotten about it? And what is needed to bring it back in the fields and on political agendas?

Organic matter matters
A farmer prepares vermicompost for field application.
We know that soil health and soil fertility are essential in maintaining plant, animal, and human health, and therefore for food security and food sovereignty. Soil health depends on organic matter which contributes to its capacity to retain water and nutrients, and feeds soil life.

Why did we forget about organic matter?

Before the 1940s, organic matter was a key theme at international soil conferences. There is decade-old, almost forgotten wealth of knowledge about organic matter. But things changed after the Second World War. Organic matter became neglected, and not by accident. The process of artificially producing nitrogen was originally developed for the explosives industry, but then the resulting chemical was also used for fertilizer. The impact on maize yields was so dramatic that researchers and policy makers became convinced that chemical fertilizer could solve global hunger.
With this new emphasis on chemical fertilizers, world renowned researchers working on soil organic matter were systematically neglected. Scientific journals were no longer interested in publishing their research, and they were no longer invited to international conferences. Subsequently, the importance of soil organic matter also dropped off agricultural curricula and from policy, extension and investment agendas.
Under the influence of the economic and political power of the chemical industry (an influence that still exists today), new crop varieties and production methods that required large quantities of fertilizer were promoted. Slowly then, this belief, pushed by industry, narrowed the view of researchers, education, policy makers and extension staff and became the norm. Chemical fertilizers were so much easier to apply a few bags of fertilizers than the bulky organic matter that also demanded mixed farming. But sole addition of chemical fertilizers to soils, without also adding organic matter causes major problems, as also explained by Roland Bunch.
The trend towards simplification, away from mixed farming and specialising in either livestock or crops, gave further currency to this narrow approach to soil fertility management. In the 90s, this combined with other challenges of globalization including an increase in industrial mining, logging and oil production, which led to more pollution and degradation. Agroecological methods for building and maintaining a healthy, living and resilient soil were largely forgotten or made impossible.

The consequences

With the use of chemical fertilizers and new varieties, crop yields first increased in some parts of the world. But now, many farmers are experiencing diminishing returns. They need to apply more and more (expensive) fertilizer each season (see ‘Keeping composting simple’). This is largely due to the loss of soil organic matter and loss of its capacity to retain water and nutrients. Pollution from excess nutrients and eroded soil particles entering waterways are additional long-term consequences of this historical mismanagement.
And, was hunger eliminated, or even reduced, in the process? The total food production per capita increased but there aremore hungry and malnourished people today than ever in the history of humanity. This shows that hunger is a not a production problem. There is food enough for all but it does not reach the poorest, while it’s estimated that 28% of the world’s agricultural area is used to produce food that is wasted.
With the globalisation of our food systems, we are also confronting a growing global imbalance. Nutrients are mined from the soil in one part of the world, and exported in the form of crops to other parts, leading to problems on both sides.

A new agenda for healthy soils

It is estimated that 17% of the land surface has been strongly degraded. So, it is high time that we revive soils with practices that increase organic matter and do not demand ever increasing amounts of non-renewable resources. These practices already exist around the world and we can draw a lot of inspiration from them. Farmers have worked with others to develop successful agroecological strategies using fallows, cover crops, green manures, mulch, and the incorporation of crop residues and compost into their living soils.
According to former Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier De Schutter, agroecological principles can increase crop yelds significantly: “Agroecological projects have shown an average crop yield increase of 80% in 57 developing countries” As described by Brazilian soil scientist Irene Cardoso, agroecological practices to improve soils lead to long-term productivity, and increase farmers’ resilience and autonomy.
To restore our soils, we must overcome a range of obstacles, from local shortages of biomass to lost knowledge and oversimplified systems. We must build on and learn from farmers and their existing agroecological practices. The International Year of Soils should build momentum to provide these practices with further support through policy and research. Then, we can work together with farmers to restore our soils so they are productive for generations to come.
Further reading:

What is organic matter?

Soil organic matter is made up of a wide variety of living and dead plant and animal material. In agriculture, this can range from leaf mulch to manure and compost. Often called ‘black gold’, it is a basic building block of soil life that supports plants to grow and thrive. It is important in several ways, mainly by enhancing soil life and increasing the water and nutrient holding capacity.

How does that work?

The process of ‘decay’ of organic matter is in fact a result of it being ‘consumed’ by the multitude of organisms in the soils, who then transfer its key component carbon into their own tissues or excrete it. These organisms range from millions of different species of fungi and bacteria, and insects and other arthropods, to larger creatures like earthworms that we know well.
Number of living organisms in 1 cubic metre of topsoil

This process also causes the breaking down and recombination of a range of compounds into forms that can be more readily absorbed by plant roots. This process is called mineralisation. It is key in nutrient cycling processes that help soils to produce healthy crops. Soil life also forms symbiotic relationships with plant roots, nitrogen is fixed and provided to plants in exchange for sugars, and nutrients such as phosphorus are solubilised for uptake by crops.
In short, soil organic matter improves soil structure, drainage and aeration; increases water and nutrient storage capacity; increases the activity and number of soil microorganisms and encourages macrofauna, such as earthworms and termites, which loosen soil and improves soil structure. And soil organic matter also plays a role in climate change mitigation. The more carbon that is incorporated in soils, as part of organic matter, the more CO2 that is fixed.

EVENT : Natural Farming Training Session by Bhaskar Save Natural Farming Training Center

Dear Sir/Madam,
We are glad to inform you that Bhaskar bhai is stable now. We are planing to organize our next Natural farming training session at Kalparuksha from 3 to 8 June, 2015. The course will be conducted in Hindi. The teachers/guides will include Bhaskar Save, Naresh Save, Suresh Save, Ashok Sanghavi, and guest lecturers like Dhirendra Soneji, Vasant Futane, Bharat Mansata, Deepak Sachde and others (according to availability) 
Topics covered under the program will be:
Basic Principles of Natural Farming; 
Biodiversity; 
Orchard development; 
Dry-land mix cropping; 
Natural Farming: Life-style; 
And so on… 
Apart from talks, discussions, observation, personal reading and reflection/self-study, the course will include two hours of practical farm work every morning and late afternoon, or a total of 4 hours each day. Farm visits will also be organized as and when possible.
The application form can be downloaded from website  www.bhaskarsavenftc.in
A personal or telephonic interview may also be required before final confirmation of enrollment.

Regards,
Bhaskar Save Natural Farming Training Center 

Thursday, May 28, 2015

How Some Small Farmers Are Resisting Monsanto—And Climate Change

Salvia seeds at a Seedy Saturday event at James Bay Market in Victoria, Canada. (Debbie Gascoyne / Flickr)

Seed sharers are resisting the death of biodiversity at the hands of industrial agriculture and GMOs.

BY PETRA PAGE-MANN
“The fate of humankind rests in our diverse biological, genetic resources,” Fowler says. “Without diversity, our crops won’t adapt to climate change. And neither will we.”
The local food movement has brought a newfound cultural focus on farming. And in the United States, gardeners, farmers and eaters are fueling a groundswell of interest in its smallest part: seeds.
Hundreds of seed exchanges—in which hobbyists and professional green thumbs share the most resilient plants from their crops—have sprung up across North America over the past decade. Recently, state agriculture departments in Pennsylvania and Minnesota have moved to restrict the practice, citing concerns about safety and the spread of invasive species. Advocates cite this as evidence of a double standard by regulators, who they say scrutinize small farmers while shielding Big Ag. Meanwhile, the seed-sharing movement continues to grow.
Cary Fowler extolls seed exchanges as “the first line of defense” against the loss of biodiversity. Fowler is the founding visionary of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a frozen repository in the Norwegian permafrost where millions of seeds from around the world are preserved. In a forthcoming documentary from director Sandy McLeod, Seeds of Time, Fowler offers a compelling perspective on the significance of seeds.
“The fate of humankind rests in our diverse biological, genetic resources,” Fowler says. “Without diversity, our crops won’t adapt to climate change. And neither will we.”
Industrial agriculture prefers, instead, uniformity: F1 hybrid seeds for many common fruits and vegetables, and genetically modified seeds for commodity crops such as corn, soybeans and sugar beets. In the 1930s, agricultural companies began breeding and patenting hybrid seeds en masse. These seeds produce a single generation of a highly uniform crop, such as the bright gold and super-sweet Sungold cherry tomato. The second, or F2, generation of plants grown from this seed, however, yields a wild mix—in the case of Sungold, fruits of all colors and flavors—that is typically unwanted.
To produce Sungold cherry tomatoes year after year, a farmer has to purchase new seeds again and again. Initially, few farmers were interested in this type of seed. But for a new generation of industrial farmers, supported by U.S. agricultural subsidies, seeds that could produce a uniform, high-yield crop were appealing.
Then, about 30 years ago, the science of agriculture changed again, with the first field test of genetically modified crops in 1987. GMOs have since come to dominate the commodity market. For example, we now have millions of acres of crops planted to resist the herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. Companies like Monsanto profit by selling both the herbicides and the seeds for resistant crops. These genetically identical crops are bringing worldwide agricultural diversity and resilience to an all-time low.
And yet, in a constantly changing world, the diversity and adaptability of our crops is the foundation of our future food security. Those traits lie in the open-pollinated seeds that our ancestors saved and sowed for 12,000 years. Fertilized naturally (rather than in controlled, human-made environments to ensure uniformity), open-pollinated seeds produce plants whose next generation is similar, but not identical, to the previous generation. When farmers select their seeds from each new generation, they are selecting for genetic diversity and regional adaptation. Much as a diverse stock portfolio offers resilience in turbulent economic times, this biodiversity offers resilience in a changing climate.
That’s where seed exchanges come in. Historically, seed sharing would have looked like hands passing seeds over a fence. Currently, seed sharing takes the form of Internet searches, trips to the mailbox, and small gatherings to exchange seeds as well as stories.
The seed-sharing meet-up has its roots in Canada, where the first official “Seedy Saturday” was held in 1989 in Vancouver and drew 500 avid participants. Today, Seedy Saturdays are among hundreds of events held across North America to provide a venue for thousands of gardeners, farmers, seed companies, nurseries and gardening organizations to exchange ideas and seeds—the vast majority of which are open-pollinated.
The Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) in Decorah, Iowa, provides another way for seed savers to share biodiversity. Since 1975, SSE has published an annual yearbook of members’ open-pollinated seed offerings. More than 13,000 members now list tens of thousands of seed varieties, and more than a million seed samples are exchanged annually.
The Webster Public Library in New York is an example of the thousands of seed libraries that now exist, offering seeds to be checked out, sown and grown, and “returned” (if possible) when new seed is saved later in the season.
Small seed companies committed to growing open-pollinated, regionally adapted and often certified organic seed are also springing up. Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seed in Oregon has been developing varieties of lettuce for more than two decades. His lettuce displays an astonishing diversity of color, texture, flavor and disease resistance, and is well-adapted to the hot, arid summers and cool, wet winters of the Willamette Valley. Morton has also partnered with Oregon State University to create resources for small farmers and served on a state taskforce convened to examine regulation of genetically engineered crops.
Fruition Seeds in New York state collaborates with local organic farmers and Cornell University to cultivate open-pollinated seeds that thrive in the Northeast. The group also partners with regional food distributors such as Foodlink. When Fruition Seeds grows winter squash for seed (rather than for eating), for example, it yields thousands of pounds of certified organic squash flesh as a byproduct. Foodlink processes and sells that squash while saving, cleaning and drying the seed for the grower.
From a rich history put on pause, farmers are beginning to reclaim the legacy of open-pollinated seeds. Farming is challenging, and growing seed is no exception. But it is the ability to adapt to ever-shifting conditions that allows our farms—and indeed, all of us—to thrive. We need time, commitment, attention to detail and, above all, patience. A single saved seed can increase genetic diversity for generations.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Russia ponder prison sentences for selling unmarked GMO products


Inline images 1

If passed the bill would amend the existing article of the criminal code that orders punishment for concealing any information about potential hazards for human life and health. It would include violation of the rules for marking goods containing GMO material. Those found guilty would face fines of up to 300,000 rubles (about $6000), or up to two years in prison or penal labor. The bill specifies that, depending on the crime’s circumstances, the punishment could be applied to the head of the company and the workers involved in the violations.
Currently, improper labeling of GMO products is punished by fines ranging between 20,000 and 50,000 rubles ($400 – $1,000) for individual entrepreneurs and between 100,000 and 500,000 rubles ($2,000 – $10,000) for companies. The law regulating the turnover of GMO was first introduced in Russia in 2007. It requires clearly visible indication on all goods containing 0.9 percent of genetically modified organisms by weight