Overview of Symposium Goals and Vision and Summary of Statewide Seed Assessment
Nancy Redfeather, Coordinator, Hawai‘i Island Seed Exchange, The Kohala Center
Dr. Hector Valenzuela, UH CTAHR and Matt Dillon, Founder and Director of Advocacy, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
Nancy Redfeather, Coordinator, Hawai‘i Island Seed Exchange, The Kohala Center
There was a time when UH used to work with farmers and gardeners to help develop new varieties for market. Now, we would like to usher in a new era where everyone comes together to restore our seed. We are hoping to locate farmers and gardeners who are interested in seed work, to bring you together, and to find resources to educate you about the future of seed. You are the leaders in this movement. Thank you to those who have come from Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i. Through the work we do this weekend, our work will unfold—how to connect our islands and forge new communication pathways to collaborate as we do this work. It is not enough just to bring back the seed we have lost. We need to do this work so well that we will be improving our seed for the next generation.
Dr. Hector Valenzuela, UH CTAHR and Matt Dillon, Founder and Director of Advocacy, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
Dillon: The goal of this Symposium is to create community seed systems. In order to do this, we need to assess what resources we have, what we’ve lost, and what we desire to have again. The Seed Assessment is like a series of brushstrokes which paint a picture of the community’s successes, challenges, needs, and desires. We looked at organizational needs, infrastructure needs (such as seed storage facilities), communication needs, and education needs. With the results in hand, we can develop a pathway—a curriculum for the future. OSA has experience with techniques and strategies for creating community seed systems, but not in Hawai‘i. We can help you with the process as you create solutions that are specific to your islands. This survey is a tool to let us know what additional information you need as you move forward.
Valenzuela: 128 people statewide took this survey. The respondent pool was representative of different islands. About half of the respondents were gardeners, and half were farmers. Most farms were one acre in size, and the survey average was ten acres. The primary crops grown by respondents are coffee, taro, carrots, herbs, and lettuce. Respondents live in a range of rainfall, elevation, and temperature zones—the whole range was represented. This is beneficial because we can begin assessing our farm resources to design a system which can produce year-round crops so we can sustain ourselves.
The bulk of the group agreed on the need to increase seed production, especially the number of Hawai‘i-specific breeding programs. Most respondents did have previous experience producing seed. Experience ranged between 1–50 years, with a median of 5 years. 43%, or the bulk of respondents, reported that they have less than 3 years’ experience producing seed.
Most respondents had no experience with crop improvement breeding, but they reported that they were interested in learning more. There were several respondents with considerable experience who can serve as leaders in this area. Likewise, there is a group of experienced gardeners who can share their knowledge of seed saving skills with the beginners in the community.
Farmers reported that long distances between farms, a small rural population, and the need to learn new seed saving techniques were their biggest challenges which need to be addressed. Weeds, lack of soil fertility, insect pests, excessive humidity during harvest time, and how to properly store seed are the biggest issues facing gardeners who responded to the survey.
All respondents expressed interest in saving seed, in restoring Hawaiian seed varieties, and in attending classes on crop improvement. If farming is an art—growing seed will be the highest form of this art. There is great potential for saving and selling seed to the community in Hawai‘i.