By JoLyn Rekasis | Experiential Learning Program Manager
Greetings from sunny Peru!
As 2020 has taken us on a wild ride, we are noticing the impact it is having on communities. There has been an influx of people returning to their communities to participate in ayni which is an ancient practice of reciprocity and exchange for manual labor when working in the fields. We also noticed another impact which was already an issue before but now it is more apparent.
Campesino farmers need better access to vegetable seeds that are heirloom and organic!
Did you know that campesino farmers know perfectly how to save seeds? Collecting seeds is part of their identity as being a farmer. When it comes to traditional crops like potato, corn, quinoa, and amaranth- they have been saving those seeds for generations. Vegetable varieties of seeds is a different situation though. Almost all campesino farmers depend on hybrid vegetable seeds from the market.
The problem?
Hybrid vegetable seeds do not produce more seeds creating a cycle of dependency!
Vegetable seeds often are nutrient-dense and profitable which makes them more desirable to grow. Let's break this cycle and give the seeds back in the hands of who will be the guardian of the seeds as they continue to nurture future generations, preserve cultural traditions, and respect Pachamama (Mother Earth).
As our Director of Agriculture Initiatives says in our video about seed saving, "Seeds in the hands of campesinos is a service to humanity"
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