Event: Seedy Sunday February 24, 2013 at CCE-Tompkins

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Event announcement:

Seedy Sunday, February 24, 11 am - 3 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca

"Seedy Sunday" will be a combination of a free seed swap and workshops on seed saving.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

11:00 am - 11:30 am - Screening of the film Seeds of Freedom, featuring environmental activist Vandana Shiva. The film charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity-rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolize the global food system. Seeds of Freedom seeks to challenge the idea that large-scale, industrial agriculture is the only means by which we can feed the world. In tracking the story of seed it becomes clear how the corporate agenda has driven the takeover of seed in order to make vast profit and control of the global food system.


11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Seed Saving for Beginners (and children!) - Learn the basics of getting started with seed saving and get some hands-on experience in seed cleaning. This workshop will empower you to start saving your own seeds this year! Learn how to make Magic Seed Wands for children, and how to construct seed cleaning tools from recycled materials.  Presented by Sean Dembrosky of Edible Acres  http://www.edibleacres.org/index.htm


12:30 pm - 1:15 pm: Advanced Seed Saving and Selection Techniques  -We've all seen tomato blossoms turning to seed-laden fruits, but have you ever seen a parsnip or carrot plant blossom and go to seed?  Come learn about biennial life cycles of root crops and the art and science (mostly the former!) of growing them on to the seed-producing stage. Learn about selection, overwintering of the first year roots, replanting in spring, flowering, seed harvesting and drying. Bring any and all questions related to seed and feel free to share what you've learned from your garden, as well!  Presented by Petra Page-Mann of Fruition Seeds http://fruitionseeds.com/


1:30 pm - 2:15 pm:  Restrictions on Saving Seed in the EU - In the US, we are very fortunate that there currently are no restrictions on saving seed to sell or share with others. However, in the European Union, it's a vastly different situation, with prohibitive registration fees and tight controls over who is allowed to produce seed. Much of this legislation has been driven by the multi-national agriculture companies in order to protect their profits and this has spurred a lively resistance movement in the EU for "Seed Sovereignty". Presented by Chrys Gardener, CCE staff and former manager of the Irish Seed Savers Association http://www.irishseedsavers.ie/


2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Roundtable Discussion on Seed Saving - Join us for an open discussion on seed saving techniques and anything else to do with seeds! All are welcome to bring questions, tips, and ideas. Discussion leaders include experienced seed savers Tim Springston of Oxbow Farm http://www.farmhack.net/wiki/oxbow-farm, Petra Mann-Page and Matthew Goldfarb of Fruition Seeds http://fruitionseeds.com/, and Chrys Gardener, CCE staff.