permaculture

Workshop Module 5: Seed Saving and Nurseries 143

PR

ESEN

TATIO

N

FAC

ILITATOR

Presentation : About seed saving

Method : Facilitator presentation

Tools : Images of good seeds and pollination, IDEP Seed Saving Fact Sheet

black/white board, markers

References : PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries

Objective    :  Participants    learn   about   seed    production  and benefits    of  saving  local   

seed varieties

Saving, producing and using local seed is one of the most important methods of

strengthening Indonesian agriculture because:

• It is cheap and easy to do.


• Everyone can collect, save, and produce seeds.


• Increasing varieties of local seeds will increase the amount and range
  of food that can be grown.


• Seeds are valuable and can be exchanged for other seeds and/or sold.


• Local seeds are adapted to local conditions - This means that they are
  used to the climate and the soils where they grow. Each year that seed is
  collected and planted, the plant will become more adapted and stronger. If
  someone from Sulawesi goes to live in England it will take them many years to
  adapt to the cold climate, people, language, and culture. It is the same for seeds
  and plants.


• Plant quality will naturally improve each year when good techniques
  are used for selecting and saving seeds - The plants that grow the
  healthiest and strongest are the plants that the seed should be saved from.

More information can be referenced at the start of PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving

and Nurseries.

Ask the participants to discuss the following in a group brainstorm:

• Varieties of seeds they already save.


• Varieties of seeds they have had problems with.


• Foods they used to grow and eat, but do not anymore.

The answers can be written on the board or compiled using a meta plan brainstorm

system.