April 26 2008

Internationally-acclaimed Permaculturalist and founder of the Seed Savers Network, Jude Fanton, will be visiting Beechmont on Saturday April 26 to run a one-day Seed Savers workshop with the Ethos Foundation.

Ms Fanton said, “keen gardeners, growers and farmers interested in preserving the genetic foundation of tomorrow’s food, should not miss this workshop!”

It will be a stimulating, practical and interactive day that focuses on:

• Localisation of plant sources – local adaptation and collecting locally-adapted planting material including seeds;
• How to adapt varieties of seed by selection;
• How local seed networks operate;
• What to do with unusual produce such as running bamboo, pumpkin shoots, snails, fennel and parsley shoots, pickles made of fennel and purple mustard and edible weeds such as spinach.

The Seed Savers Network runs educational programs in Australia and overseas for the preservation of open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds and the genetic diversity of plant varieties. It also helps to establish community seed banks for non-hybrid plant varieties.

Founder of the Seed Savers Network, Jude Fanton and her husband Michel Fanton wrote the best selling “Seed Savers Handbook” and are regarded as outstanding leaders and educators within the field. They have helped to establish Seed Networks in countries such as Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, India, Japan, the Solomon Islands and the Phillipines.

Seed Savers has established 70 Local Seed Networks around Australia that collect, maintain and distribute locally adapted varieties of food plants. There is a free book on how to establish food gardens in schools at www.seedsavers.net

The Beechmont Seed Savers Workshop will be held on Saturday April 26 at the Ethos Foundation’s hombase: 37 Bibaringa Close, Beechmont. Cost is $60 per person (Beechmont residents) and $80 per person (non-Beechmont residents).

The workshop is specifically designed to help build the skills of sustainable, organic food growers on the Beechmont plateau and is supported by Beaudesert Shire Council’s Community Environment Assistance Grant. People from other areas are also most welcome to attend.

To register for the workshop click here.

Workshop Flyer

For further information please contact the Ethos Foundation at 5533 3813; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.seedsavers.net