Seeds of life!
by Benoît Bleau, translation Sheila Lord (October 2014)
Fall is my favorite season – did I already tell you this? The heat of summer has dissipated, giving way to cooler temperatures and the first frosts. This period of the year, when we become aware of the abundance of the harvests, reminds us once again of the generosity of Mother Nature. It is time to start preparing preserves and reserves for the coming winter. It is also the time to select the best of our garden fruits and vegetables from which to keep seeds for the next growing season.

Since the beginnings of agriculture farmers have regarded it as their duty to preserve the genetic heritage which nature has bestowed on them. They preserve and select, year after year, the fruits of plants which are outstanding for such qualities as aroma, flavour, nutrition, as well as productivity It is for this very reason that today we have access to almost1.5 million varieties of seeds for agricultural cultivation stored in a variety of local and national seedbanks across the world.
This process of selection by farmers has always been a universal right, since nobody may declare himself in control of nature and hence appropriate the ownership of her gifts to us. Those who select the seeds and the companies who develop their own genetic cross-breeding have, however, been authorised to demand rights (Growing Right Agreement or cultivation right) from those who use their varieties or cultivars, but they have never gone as far as to prevent a farmer from keeping his own seeds originating from open pollination.
Since the development by some multinationals of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and of free trade agreements (FTA) between various countries, the rules have changed in favor of the most powerful countries. There seems to be a clear determination to control everything living, whether it is animal or vegetable and to take over the best land for export cultivation. One witnesses more and more the adoption of rules, as was the case in Colombia in 2010 with resolution 970 which forbade Colombian farmers from keeping their seeds so as to enable private businesses and transnational organisations to claim a market monopoly. Curiously enough, these same transnationals finance directly or via foundations, international seedbank schemes, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. One wonders what their real intentions are !
Fortunately groups of farmers and citizens are forming everywhere to denounce this situation and together preserve this fragile genetic heritage and guarantee of biodiversity. This is happening in Canada with Seeds of Diversity which permits the protection and exchange of thousands of seed varieties each year on a voluntary basis (seeds.ca/fr.php); there is also the international organisation GRAIN(grain. org), Via Campesina which is a very important international farmers movement (viacampesina.org) and the French group Kokopelli (kokopelli-seed-foundation.com).
Our duty as citizens is to learn about these situations and about solutions available. In our own community we can also get involved and protect certain varieties of plants which we consider special for different reasons. Seeds of Diversity has published some good books on seed conservation. In addition, in Hemmingford for two years we have organised a garden festival. Why not also start a seed exchange. Anyone interested can contact me and we could meet for more discussion. Meanwhile, enjoy the autumn scenery and woodland walks.