LONDONDERRY — Residents are invited to come out from the cold to share food and seeds at the second annual Community Seed Swap & Potluck on Thursday, March 26, 5 to 8 p.m., at the South Londonderry Train Depot, just south of the bridge on Route 100 in South Londonderry.
The seed swap will take place between 5 and 6, and dinner and talks follow from 6 to 7, with a Q & A and a short film closing out the evening.
As it is a swap and potluck, bring non-GMO seeds to trade and a favorite dinner dish to share. If you are unable to bring anything to share, there is a suggested donation of $5 to go toward the rental of the space. Or come early to help set up or stay late to help clean up.
Emmett Dunbar from Anjali Farms, Gosia Malgorzata Mosiej, and Taylor Curtis from the Colab Garden at Flood Brook School Garden will be giving talks on spring planting, seed saving methods, a group buy-in for potting mix and compost, and how you can get involved in community gardening projects. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and answers, and attendees are invited to share their experiences.
A short film, “Seeds of Freedom” by Dr. Vandana Shiva, will be shown. Shiva is a physicist, environmental activist and author. She has been campaigning for seed and food justice as well as sustainable agricultural practice. Author of more than a dozen books, she lectures around the world on topics such sustainable farming, seed freedom, and gender issues.
In 1991, she founded Navdanya, a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources – especially native seed – and to promote organic farming and fair trade.
Navdanya's efforts have resulted in the conservation of more than 3,000 rice varieties from across India, and the organization has established 60 seed banks in 16 states across the country. Shiva launched a global citizens campaign on GMOs in WTO.
If you plan to attend, please bring a plate and utensils. There will be live music, and attendees are invited to bring an instrument and play.
If you would like to volunteer or have questions, email [email protected]