Seeds lie at the heart of our food systems and much of life on Earth.
If we want to enjoy nutritious, healthy food for all in a climate-changed world, we need a resilient food system founded upon a great diversity of seed types. From rice varieties that can germinate and grow in flood conditions, to millet that can flourish in the most severe drought.
This November 18-22nd we will hold our third ‘Seed Week’. During these five days we will celebrate the vital work underway to revive the diversity of organic, open-pollinated seed, build the skills of growers and strengthen local food economies in the UK, Ireland and beyond.
In particular, Seed Week supports the objectives of the UK & Ireland Seed Sovereignty Programme by raising awareness of local, organic and open pollinated seed being grown and sold in the UK and Ireland.
Curious? Visit our Seed Sovereignty website to find out more.
Throughout the week we will be highlighting the work the programme’s Regional Coordinators are doing to revive seed sovereignty and a fair, sustainable, resilient food economy in these islands.
We will also shine a light on our partners in the programme- from market-gardeners to seed sellers- to encourage gardeners and growers to buy locally-adapted, open-pollinated seed and consider growing their own.
Each coordinator will take one day of the week to share their work and the work of others in their region via our Seed Sovereignty blog. You can stay up to date throughout the week here.
Seed Week is a unique opportunity for you to support the brilliant people bringing diversity back to our fields and food. Read on to find out how to participate by spreading the word, buying better seed and learning to produce seed yourselves…
Spread the word
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and share our posts and/or share your own thoughts, ideas and seed saving initiatives using #SeedWeek.
You can also follow the regional coordinators of our UK and Ireland Seed Sovereignty Programme: @IrelandSeedSov & @IrishSeedSavers, @EEnglandSeedSov, @WEnglandSeedSov, @ScotSeedSov, @WalesSeedSov
Buy better seeds
Christmas is coming and so are this year’s seed catalogues.
If you are a keen gardener, or know one, find out who your local seed suppliers are through our interactive Seed Sovereignty map and buy better, locally, adapted, diverse seed for the next growing season.
Grow back diversity
If you’re a commercial grower, we’ve got a great range of tools and trainings for anyone interested in integrating seed production into crop rotations, seed saving and other essential skills for a healthy, biodiverse seed system.
Connect with the regional coordinators of our UK & Ireland Seed Sovereignty Programme to find out more.
Find out more…
- Visit our Seed Sovereignty Website to find out more about the UK and Ireland Seed Sovereignty Programme.
- Watch our Seeds of Freedom film trilogy to discover the story of seed, from life-giving gift to corporate commodity, and meet the farmers fighting for seed sovereignty.
- Read more about Gaia’s Food, Seed and Climate Change Resilience programme.