November 2012

As the days get shorter and colder, many of you will be collecting the last of your seed collections and tucking them away for winter storage. This issue includes some seed storing tips to help you preserve your seeds well. This issue also includes notes from the fantastic Seed Connections conference hosted by ECOSGN and Seeds of Diversity in Montreal, news of our freshly updated Canadian Seed Catalogue Inventory, and of course a profile of one of our fantastic members.

And speaking of fantastic, we have some really fantastic news - USC Canada and Seeds of Diversity are officially announcing a really exciting partnership: The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security has been launched! Across the entire country, Canadians will soon benefit from this major program to build a more secure and diverse ‘made-in-Canada’ seed supply. The initiative will involve working with seed producers, farmers, farmer organizations, seed banks, organic industry partners, researchers in plant genetics and climate, governments, and food organizations to at least double the production and spread of biodiverse, locally-adapted seed. Keep watching for more news on this venture as the programs begin to roll out early next year.

Seed Connections - Broadcasting Seed from Coast to Coast

Storing Your Saved Seeds

Canadian Seed Catalogue Inventory

In the Fields - Brenda Goudreault

Pollinator Patch: Soldier Beetles