A network of diversity

For many years, Seed Savers seed bank in Byron Bay was the "centre" of the Seed Savers' Network, providing leadership, vision, enthusiastic energy and seeds to everyone who would grow and maintain seeds. In 2001 we decided to decentralise, encouraging people across Australia to form their own seed saving groups. That way they could share in the responsibility and pleasure of sharing locally adapted seeds and have the privilege of creating local varieties and maintaining rare species of food plants. Today many people understand the value of finding local varieties that grow well without pesticides.

By mid 2007 we had completed with John Brisbin, principal of Boad Interactive and our pro-bono web architect, our five year plan towards the goal of setting up at least sixty Local Seed Networks (LSNs). By late 2009 we had 87 Local Seed Networks registered.

If you're the busy type, love to have access to lots of seeds, and love to share resources, we invite you to join us in this exciting and challenging journey. We have a Charter and Guidelines, see below, which outline what we offer and minimum service for a Local Seed Network. If you agree to this, we send a Questionnaire that prompts your group to decide on matters such as its name, its aims, where and how often it will meet and what its target audience might be. Seed Savers then sends a set of posters and pamphlets to you for promotion and sets up a webpage on this website for your LSN.

We have a vibrant, participatory network of networks all across the country. No matter where you live, there should be an active Local Seed Network near you except if you are in the outback. Let's not forget that some Australian have not even moble coverage and are hours away from a library or hospital. If you have no LSN near you, please consider starting one up! Join us now and let's build a healthier future together!

What are Local Seed Networks?

A local seed network is a group of people never mind how small, who enjoy swapping seeds and cuttings as much as they enjoy sharing stories and other garderners company. Many people have told us how much they have enjoyed getting together with other growers in their area, and suggested that we might help other groups get started. The Local Seed Networks project is our way of sharing Seed Savers Network's knowledge, tools, and encouragement with anyone who wants to save seeds with their neighbours! Jude and I have turned 60  a while back and are now producing video clips for this website on factors of resilence, home seed production, indigenous farmers, children learning in gardens, feasts and foods, food preps from gardens to table, wild harvests and gleaning, unusual harvests, we also have 700 interviews to choose from....  Anyone experienced likes to help? 229 hours of footage shot in 15 countries are all logged, properly indexed and stored. email michel@seedsavers.net

Why are Local Seed Networks important?

The basic answer to many of today's problems with poor-quality corporate-bred vegetables is quite simple: grow your own! If you're on this site, you probably are already a gardener and appreciate the tasty rewards of a simple kitchen garden.

Preserving local and traditional varieties is incredibly important to having good food on the table. Local Seed Networks are an excellent way to find local varieties  that are not offered by seed companies. when it comes to tubers and vegetatively propagated plants nothing beats a local seed network. From one garden to another.

LSNs are also the place where you learn how to preserve and prepare garden foods. 

If you're interested in forming a local group, please email Michel or Jude through the contact form at the bottom of the page.