We hear the tree that falls. Never the forest that sleeps.
Every seed is a sleeping forest.
Stories of Seed Keepers Around the WorldThe voices of seed keepers from around the world, gathered with the Local Seeds Coalition. A book of hope, made to support the coalition's work.
In every story we gathered, there was something quietly universal. Strength, courage, the will to fight for those who will come after us. Doubt and despair, too.
And yet, like a small seed, fragile but alive, there was always hope.
We who keep striving for a better future are far more numerous than those who seek to undo what connects us: nature and one another.
What the seeds keep teaching us
From the United States to Uganda, from Canada to Croatia and Australia: librarians, farmers, researchers, gardeners. Their words weave six threads.
“It's so rare in this modern culture that we get together and do tasks with people.”
Ann Brigit Waters · Mendocino County, California“In our community, seed sharing is free.”
John Wayu · Central Uganda, near Lake Victoria“Part of gardening and growing seed is failure.”
Gabrielle James · Salt Lake City, Utah“It's a really empowering process to save seeds. It literally feels like a gift.”
Amy Rhine · Oregon“Seeds are more of a relationship than a commodity. Something living, not just something to use.”
Kaitlin · Toronto, Canada“Feeding people — that's the most important level of care there is.”
Dominique Pearson · California
Within the harvest lies the seed, and within the seed, the promise of the next harvest.
Ann Brigit Waters · Mendocino County, California“It's only a fool that eats even the seed.”
Shared by John Wayu, Uganda. You always have to leave some for the next season.Local Seeds Coalition
The Local Seeds Coalition is a growing network of seed keepers, farmers, educators, seed libraries and regional seed companies. Together, they strengthen local seed systems adapted to their climate, culture and values.
This work often goes unseen. The coalition gathered hundreds of testimonies to make it visible. This book carries some of them, and it exists to support their work.
“It begins with the seed.”
70+coalition partners 10 000years of human seed stewardship 4firms control half to two-thirds of the global commercial seed market
Plant a little hope.
A book to read slowly, to give, to leave on the kitchen table. For everyone who saves seeds, or would like to start.
- AuthorsGoing to Seed & Vergers du Monde
- PartnerLocal Seeds Coalition
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVergers du Monde Press
Every copy supports the work of the Local Seeds Coalition.
FOOD IS POWER.