Resources
Introduction: The importance and value of local seed systems
Artucle from Hānai‘Ai / The Food Provider, written by Lyn Howe, Nancy Redfeather, and Hector Valenzuela, Spring 2012
Seed Stories: Special Seed Edition, August 2013
Organic Seed Alliance Publishes State of Organic Seed
Organic seed systems are improving but require increased attention and resources. Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) released an extensive report last weekend at the Organicology conference in Portland, Oregon, that serves as the first comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in building the organic seed sector.
The report, titled State of Organic Seed: Advancing the Viability and Integrity of Organic Seed Systems, is an ongoing project to monitor the status of organic seed systems in the United States. The USDA National Organic Program requires the use of organically produced seed when commercially available. However, the organic seed sector was almost nonexistent when the organic program began, and has not caught up to meet the demand for organic seed. This gap could expand given the continued growth of the organic industry.
State of Organic Seed provides evidence that organic seed systems are developing. Farmers report increased attempts to source organic seed and more pressure from certifiers to do so. Public research in organic plant breeding has increased slightly, with investments from both the public and private sector.
State of Organic Seed Report - Organic Seed Alliance 2011
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Organic Producer Questions
The Law of the Seed
Released on May 13, 2013 at Terra Futura, Florence, Italy, The Law of The Seed is put forward as a tool to be used by citizens everywhere and in every context to defend seed freedom and seed sovereignty as well as to provide a practical guide to all future development of laws and policies on seed. We hope that it will serve as a catalyst for citizens to spread awareness of the critical state of the seed industry and biodiversity.
Presentations from "Seed Basics Workshops for Farmers and Gardeners"
Kaua‘i, November 2011
O‘ahu, March 2012
Maui, May 2012
Moloka‘i, August 2012
Hawai‘i Island, November 2012
Web sites
Seeds of Freedom
A landmark film from The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network
Hawai‘i Horticulture Blog
Seed Savers Exchange
Hawai‘i Foundation Seeds, CTAHR
Seeds available for order from University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture Seed Lab
Cooperative Extension Service, UH Mānoa
Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
The Cornell University Public Seed Initiative
OSA's Research Program, links to research reports and studies on organic seed trials, varieties, and research
Seed Savers Foundation, a registered charity that fosters fruit and vegetable seed exchanges in twenty countries
Safe Seed Pledge
Download a PDF list of companies that have taken the Safe Seed Pledge
Seeds of Diversity's On-line
Heritage Plants Database
Family Farmers Seed Cooperative
AOSCA Organic Seed Finder
The purpose of this Web site is to allow seed providers and their potential customers to find one another. The seed listings are dynamic and will change during the year to reflect new vendors and seed availability.
Center for Food Safety: Save Our Seeds
Seedmap.org
An archive of many informational webinars on seed saving, planning your garden for seed saving, organizing seed swaps, libraries, etc.
The heart of Seedmap.org is an interactive map that lets you visit hundreds of case studies around the world where agricultural biodiversity originated, is threatened, and where people are working to safeguard it.
Guides
Vegetable Planting Guide by Fedco Co-op Garden Supplies
A Handful of Seeds by Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Saving Your Own Vegetable Seeds - A Guide for Farmers
Written by: Sutevee Sukprakarn, Sunanta Juntakool and Rukui Huang, Kasetsart University
A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
On-Farm Variety Trials - A Guide For Organic Vegetable, Herb, and Flower Producers, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
The Organic Center Critical Issue Report: "The Magnitude and Impacts of the Biotech and Organic Seed Price
Premium," by Charles Benbrook, December 2009
Organic Seed Resource Guide
"Reinvigorating Plant & Animal Breeding for a Sustainable Future," a Position Paper of the Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group & the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Out of Hand: Farmers Face the Consequences of a Consolidated Seed Industry, a report by the Farmer to Farmer to Campaign on Genetic Engineering, December 2009
Small-Scale Organic Seed Production by Patrick Steiner
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Seed Production Guides provides a number of very informative free pdf downloadable guides on seed production and saving methods
Meeting Notes from Seed Groups around the State
East Side 2010 Seed Exchange Panel Discussion: "What works in Puna"
Reports
Moloka‘i Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program Newsletter, July 2013
"Special Kalo (Taro) Edition" featuring articles by Glenn Teves, UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
Seed Savings - Part II
Article by Glenn Teves, UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
Organic Vegetable Breeding & Variety Testing
Overview of Projects by Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Organic Seed Alliance: Annual Reports
The year-end Organic Seed Alliance Annual Reports contain links to excellent resources regarding crop improvement, organic seed systems, plant breeding, and much more.
Organic Seed Alliance Annual Report 2012
Organic Seed Alliance Annual Report 2011
Organic Seed Alliance Annual Report 2010
Public research on indigenous cereal seed varieties could be a key to increasing food supplies in Africa
May 2011
Seed Videos
Open-Source, Do-It-Yourself Seed Cleaner Plans
Released for the benefit of small independent seed producers, this design combines traditional zig-zag aspirator design with a 'swirl chamber' just below take-off to allow repeated sorting of each seed as it is poured though. Suitable for small seed (poppy, amaranth) to medium seed (squash, sunflower).
Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library - Richmond, California Seed Saving Videos
How to Save Peas and Beans
How to Save Lettuce Seeds and other Members of the Sunflower Family
Other Resources
State of Organic Seed Presentation
Organic Seed Alliance
The complete Seed Symposium Web site can be found at www.kohalacenter.org/seedsymposium/about.html. Information on this site includes a list of our Symposium Partners, the Seed Symposium Program, and Bios of all the speakers.