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Post by 12540dumont on Feb 15, 2014 13:45:59 GMT -5
Some of the problems that I saw with SSE, are things like changing directions without asking anyone. For example, through a NZ heritage seed company, I discovered that SSE was doing a grow out for them of beans, so that they could legally be imported into NZ. Now that's great, but did they ask anyone whether the SSE money should be used for foreign export before they commenced with the project?
Also, many seeds that have been donated to SSE were not grown out.
They now have heritage cows and chickens. That's great too, but adding animals is a great expense. Who authorized that.
My point in all this is that where's the focus. One group cannot do everything. I know, I'm a farmer, I do everything and it always happens that something falls through the cracks.
At this point, really we want people who want to be on the board to stand for election. So I'm going to open a new topic regarding this. Regards, Holly
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Feb 15, 2014 18:55:05 GMT -5
The way the big seed companies prevent people from copying their seed typically involves making hybrids. Without the parent lines nobody can recreate those hybrids. That sort of automatic, no lawyers required, protection is certainly within the reach of anyone on this forum. It's especially easy if there are no qualms about using cytoplasmic male sterility.
I am a part of a group of seed growers that has pledged 5% of gross sales to the developer/curator of any variety that we grow out and resell. I receive royalties and I pay them out. I wish that I had been exposed to that idea sooner.
If someone grows out my seed and resells it, then if they keep the name I gave it I am getting publicity and fame. Anyone not know the name of the developer of "Painted Mountain Flour Corn"? If they don't keep the name then I'm none the wiser and can't feel bad about what I don't know.
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Post by trixtrax on Feb 15, 2014 19:34:07 GMT -5
Joseph, what is this group called? I would like to be in that group. I believe in the concept of reciprocity.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Feb 15, 2014 20:00:21 GMT -5
Joseph, what is this group called? I would like to be in that group. I believe in the concept of reciprocity. We don't have a name, or a formal organization: Just a commitment to each other that our seeds are public domain so that anyone can grow them and resell them, and we acknowledge each others contributions by returning royalties to each other. Occasionally I have taken it a step further, and sent a royalty payment to someone that developed the seed for a variety that I sold as food at the farmer's market. We use 5% as our guideline, because it is easy to let go of, but large enough to add up for the developer. Welcome to the group!!!! |
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Post by blackox on Feb 15, 2014 20:20:44 GMT -5
I myself would be very interested in joining, but am not sure that I'll be able to produce much for a year or two as we are in the middle of finding a new location for the farm. I think that the idea of starting this organization is a great one and would be fully willing to put anything that I've got into it.
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Post by paquebot on Feb 15, 2014 23:32:13 GMT -5
Also, many seeds that have been donated to SSE were not grown out. This has been posed as a weak balloon problem but as the exact opposite. SSE lists 2,579 unique varieties in the 2014 Yearbook. Those are from growouts of seeds either donated or purchased. Those are varieties which would not have otherwise been available this year and represent only a small percentage of their holdings. SSE will only list something which nobody else lists. I, too, have sent seeds to SSE and they have never listed a one of them. Nor do I expect them to ever list them as long as myself or others list them. For all I know, they may have grown them out 10 years ago and sitting pretty with a quart of seeds in the freezers. Also, the animals have been there a long time and the very thought of losing them one time was not acceptable to most members who spoke up. Martin |
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Post by dustdevil on Feb 16, 2014 12:37:13 GMT -5
I think SSE should list members varieties for trade and cut out the selling aspect. Then, members could contact other members and work out their trade agreement. SSE suggested selling prices for members makes everyone a seed dealer instead of a trader. Let's face it, the suggested $3-$4 selling price is more than many seed dealers charge. Also, all those seed varieties locked away in Svalbard and SSE themselves offer basically the same varieties year after year. With so many seed varieties in storage, the offerings should be completely different every year. SSE needs to come around to a new way of thinking...
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Post by oxbowfarm on Feb 19, 2014 13:23:37 GMT -5
It may be that the SSE is merely a victim of the internet. It very definitely revitalized the concept of seed saving and seed preservation in this country. And served as an inspiration/model for other similar organizations nationally. But organizations that become large and especially organizations that are started by charismatic personalities can develop disfunctional "culture". I see that in SSE. It is top-down, opaque, overbearing, and very poor at communication. Given the diversity of methods available to anyone with a computer to acquire easily and often for virtually no financial outlay, SSE membership, paper-yearbook model is likely obsolete. They appear to be trying to address this with the revamped online yearbook etc, but it seems pretty tone-deaf to the winds of change.
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