Ten Day | Bioregional Seed Saving &Food Security Masterclass | 7th to 17th February 2024

Description

Tutors: Kay Baxter and the Kōanga Seed Team. 

This comprehensive workshop will equip you with all the knowledge and skills necessary to establish your own bioregional or family/whanau seed bank, ensuring future food security. Additionally, you will learn how to design a food garden that facilitates seed saving, empowering you to become self-reliant in producing your own seeds.

In our rapidly changing and uncertain world, the issue of food security has gained utmost importance. The quality of our seeds plays a crucial role in our ability to grow healthy, local, and regenerative food. For years, the Kōanga Institute has been dedicated to supporting home gardeners by providing them with the essential skills for self-reliance, and understanding the process of saving high-quality seeds adapted to local climates is fundamental to achieving this goal.

The vast majority of commercially available seeds in New Zealand are produced by large companies overseas, leaving home gardeners vulnerable to global instabilities if they do not save their own seeds. The industrialization of our food production has led to a drastic loss of genetic diversity in our food crops. The incredible array of genetically unique varieties that once existed has been reduced to a mere fraction, primarily selected for their commercial viability rather than meeting the needs of home gardeners.

The Kōanga Institute boasts an extensive and valuable collection of New Zealand heritage seeds, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Their remarkable work in seed saving and production has gained international recognition. Kay Baxter, the founder of the Institute, has dedicated herself to preserving these seeds and making them accessible to New Zealanders. Over the past 30 years, her efforts have safeguarded more than 700 NZ heritage seed lines, many of which are now available to members and home gardeners. Recent research at the Institute has focused on empowering home gardeners to increase the nutritional density of their produce by adapting biological agricultural methods to suit their needs.

The comprehensive skills and resources required for successful seed saving are essential as community-based organizations strive for local sustainability and community self-reliance. While seed saving itself is not difficult, it involves numerous considerations when it comes to ensuring food security and the preservation of specific varieties.

During this 10-day workshop, you will acquire the expertise and understanding necessary to grow and save your own seeds. You will learn how to produce high-quality seeds with longevity and the potential for optimal nutrition. Whether you intend to establish a seed bank for a larger community or address food security within your immediate family, this workshop will provide you with the necessary skills and resources. The techniques taught are low-tech and adaptable to various situations, including rural villages without access to electricity or technology.

Course Outline

Genetics:

• Selecting seeds: Where to begin
• Plant guilds
• Open pollination, hybrids, and genetic engineering
• Heritage seeds
• Local adaptation
• Planning for climate change

Environment:

• Restoring the balance of minerals
• Supporting microbiology
• Managing nutrient cycles
• Enhancing soil health through carbon cycle management
• Testing and analysis
• Techniques for long-term self-sufficiency in the garden

Garden Planning for Seed Saving:

• Designing food production systems that facilitate seed saving

Seed Production:

• Saving true seed and maintaining varietal purity
• Timing and planning
• Perennials and vegetative reproduction
• Strengthening genetics
• Selection criteria

Seed Processing:

• Harvesting
• Cleaning and drying seeds
• Appropriate low-tech storage techniques
• Record-keeping and labeling

Storage and Future Use:

• Adaptation to changing environments
• Accession numbers
• Insurance seeds
• Community seed banks
• Seed exchange and networking

Itinerary

Wednesday 7th to Saturday 17th February: 9am start

Sunday 11th February: Rest day

Meals Provided

Wednesday 7th: Morning Tea- Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner

Thursday 8th to Friday 16th: Breakfast – Morning Tea – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner

Saturday 17th: Breakfast – Morning Tea – Lunch – Afternoon tea. Finish 3pm

Catered Meals During the Workshop: We understand the significance of food in ecosystems, cultures, and health. That’s why all the meals provided during the workshop are thoughtfully sourced and prepared. While we cannot accommodate specific food preferences or intolerances, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any concerns or queries.

At Kōanga, we recognize the vital role of food in ecosystems, cultures, communities, and our overall health. Therefore, all the meals served during our courses adhere to these principles:

• Locally sourced
• Organic
• Unrefined
• Nutrient-dense
• Traditional
• Prepared following the principles of Weston A. Price

For your convenience, we offer very basic camping facilities on-site, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Alternatively, you can opt to stay in Wairoa at your own cost. If you’re travelling from afar and need accommodation the night before or after the workshop, kindly inform us in advance. During this time, participants usually arrange their own food and cooking facilities.

Most evenings will be spent researching personal projects, homework and/or watching online content.

Join us for this immersive Bioregional Seed Saving Workshop Masterclass and gain the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure future food security while preserving the rich heritage of our seed diversity. Workshop participants will also receive a 15% discount for the online, on-demand workshop Kōanga Gardening Online Masterclass 2023 with Regeneration Productions.

We look forward to welcoming you here at Kōanga Institute.