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A Post From the Pako Field:
The
Global Seed Savers
Newsletter
January Edition, 2019
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News From the Field:
Welcome BASS Seed Librarian Connie Sotero
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Connie proudly displays her dill seed.
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We are happy to share the news that Connie Sotero, a founding member, officer, and teacher trainer of the Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS), is our new Seed Librarian in Tublay.
Connie is a dedicated organic farmer who recently returned home after a year-long
apprenticeship
and training program in Japan. During this program she learned new techniques in organic farming from her
Japanese
colleagues and shared her knowledge of seed saving and more. In her new role as Seed Librarian she will be responsible for ensuring the Seed Library is open one day a week, tracking inventory, monitoring quality of seeds being entered and shared in the library, and
assisting
in local seed sales.
We are excited to have Connie step into this new role to support the continued growth of our founding Seed Library.
Cebu Seed Savers Underway
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Cebu Seed Saver Farmer Wilson shows seeds to Karen during virtual meeting earlier this month.
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Our model is growing and expanding to the Southern Philippines. After hosting two successful Seed Schools in Cebu in 2018 and spending a week finalizing our on-going collaborations with our partners there last November, we are excited to launch the Cebu Seed Savers in the coming months.
Thanks to our dynamic collaborations with
Cebu Farmers Market and
Communities for Alternative Food Ecosystems Initiative (CAFE-I), a
dedicated group of 15 farmers are committed to conducting seed trials and expanding the current seed library stock in Cebu. Next month, Karen, our Country Director, will be traveling to Cebu to host a three- day Seed School and Teacher Training Course to help prepare the Cebu Seed Savers for their next steps.
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New Funding and Global Partnerships
Majeure Foundation Gift
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Pictured L-R: BASS Farmer Anita, Kelly Shea,
BASS Farmer Ester pose during farm visits in 2018.
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Last December we received the first official donation from the newly
Their generous $2,000 contribution well enable us to expand our programming and impact to Cebu throughout 2019.
Majeure was founded by Colorado Native and Sustainable Agriculture expert Kelly Shea with a commitment to being a creative force for improving climate and communities through faith and farming around the world.
We are happy to have Kelly and Majeure in the Global Seed Savers Family. In fact, last year we hosted Kelly in the Philippines where she visited our founding seed library and toured a number of the
Benguet Association
of Seed Savers farms. Thank you, Majeure and Kelly, for supporting our dedicated farmers and growing impact in the Philippines!
IFOAM Membership
IFOAM's
mission is 'leading change, organically' by working toward true sustainability in agriculture, from the field, through the value chain to the consumer.
With more than 750 members in over 127 countries, IFOAM is the voice of the global organic movement.
We are excited to be a member in this growing network and collaborate and learn from the IFOAM community.
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Up-Coming Events
Mountain West Seed Summit:
"Reunion of the Radicles"
February 22nd-23rd in
Santa Fe, New Mexico
We are thrilled to have our Founder and Executive Director, Sherry Manning present at this event giving a talk titled, "
Seed Saving on the Global Landscape: Preserving Traditions and Sowing Resistance."
She will be sharing the stage with Indra Shekhar Singh a seed steward who has traveled to over 1,200 villages conducting workshops on sustainability and sustainable farming throughout India.
Join us for this exciting gathering of the seed community in the Mountain West and around the world.
Learn more and register
here
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Posner Center Symposium: Lessons in Collaboration
February 21st-22nd in
Denver, Colorado
The Posner Center Symposium is a gathering of Colorado-based leaders who are committed to improving global development work
through collaboration. We will convene organizational leaders and experts, local and global stakeholders, partners, and supporters, to
share knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned to improve global development work and contribute to the evidence base on best
practices in collaborative development.
T
he event will begin with an evening reception Thursday, February 21, 2019, followed by a full-day
Symposium on Friday, February 22.
Learn more and register here!
March 16th 4pm-10pm
Pizzeria Locale
(32nd and Lowell Location in the Highlands)
Join us for our first fundraiser of the year! Enjoy delicious pizza and more at Pizzeria Locale in the West Highlands on 32nd and Lowell and 30% of your check including alcohol will be donated to us.
RSVP via the Facebook Event Page or just show up and... remember to tell the cashier you are there for Global Seed Savers to make sure your support is registered.
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