In the last one hundred years ninety to ninety-five percent of vegetable varieties have gone extinct. In response to this loss of agrobiodiversity, the Concordia Seed Project proposes to enhance, maintain and teach the importance of biodiversity in our local food system though the growing, passing, and sharing of seeds and seed saving knowledge.
The goal of the project is to help maintain a cultural, social and ecological resiliency in the human/plant relationship. Education will be provided to the Concordia community through workshops, a public seed saving demonstration garden, and the initiation of the Concordia seed library. Workshops will occur throughout the year via the seed demonstration garden and a seed series done in conjunction with the City Farm School (please see attached seed series descriptions and project timeline). During the fall, seed issues will be promoted via a Cinema Politica film screening. As well, students of Dr. Greene’s Urban Agriculture will participate in seed processing. During the past few months, research was conducted to locate locally adapted seeds that make good candidates for the seed library. Seeds identified thus far have been received as donations from farmers. Select seeds will be grown out at the demonstration garden located at the Loyola campus. Aside from providing an educational/teaching space, the purpose of the garden will be to produce seeds for the seed library and Concordia greenhouse.
Years funded: 2013-14
Amount allocated: $9,680.00
Project leader: Deanna Kazina