The following article was written by to Deena Larsen and Tammy O’Connor, co-founders of Lakeshore Seed Collective.
The 5th Annual Lakeshore Area Seed Swap will be held in the Balkansky Room of Manitowoc Public Library on Saturday, March 1, from 9 AM to noon. The public is invited to take part in this Seed Swap—no need to bring seeds of your own to “swap!” Just stop in, pick up some seeds, and enjoy the great conversations and gathering of gardeners.
Many people don’t give seeds much thought. Poets, scientists, dreamers, and, especially, gardeners look to seeds as hope. In fact, according to Leah Penniman, founder of Soul Fire Farms, women from West Africa were surrounded by devastation and ancestors who “were forced into these transatlantic slave ships with no report-backs.” In order to preserve their hope for future generations, they wove seeds from their homes in their hair. The hair braid remained with them wherever they ended up, enhancing the belief that the Earth and environment would sustain them as long as they possessed a seed.
During World War II, citizens were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to help with the war effort. During the early 1940s, people grew as much as 40% of their own produce. After the war, with the growth of cities, many people stopped having gardens, choosing to buy their food from grocery stores and markets. As a result, over time, we have been heading toward a loss of seed diversity and heirloom varieties are disappearing.
GreenAmerica.org has rebranded Victory Gardens as Climate Victory Gardens, to update the need to current trends. With increasing concerns for our access to food in the years ahead, planting and saving seeds are important activities that we want to help foster. In addition to being hopeful, choosing varieties to plant creates autonomy and control.
If you have seeds you don’t plan to use, you can drop them off at Manitowoc Public Library anytime leading up to the event. There is a colorful box near the Main Desk right by the First Floor entrance. Donating seeds in advance will allow volunteers time to organize the seeds.
We look forward to seeing you at the 5th Annual Lakeshore Area Seed Swap on Saturday, March 1, at Manitowoc Public Library. Just think of it as a potluck—but with seeds! See you in the Balkansky!