mantotie kultūraugi palīdz pielāgoties klimata pārmaiņām
10 Lecture - Latvia’s story!
Intro: This lecture is part of a project funded by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve sustainable agriculture in Africa.
Main Content: Latvia is a small Northern European country, by the Baltic Sea. It’s known for its forests, lakes, and beautiful coastlines. The capital city is Riga. Latvia has a strong farming tradition where the whole community works together.
Latvian farmers save seeds from their best plants and share them with their neighbors. This way, everyone gets good seeds and helps each other grow more vital crops. They also share farming stories and knowledge, creating a supportive network.
We in Ghana can do something similar. Let’s start by saving seeds from our best plants and sharing them with neighbors. Talk about your farming experiences and learn from others. Sharing seeds and stories can help each other improve and strengthen our communities.
Call for action: Begin a seed-sharing group in your village. Share your farming experiences and support each other to grow better crops and build a stronger community.
The Seed Saving Movement in Latvia: From Its Beginnings to the Present
2012-2015: Seeking Like-Minded Individuals
The seed saving movement in Latvia is a shining example of how global ideas can be adapted to local circumstances. Inspired by global experiences, a movement started by a single individual has grown into a broad public initiative that promotes the preservation of local plant varieties, strengthens community ties, and encourages a sustainable lifestyle.
Sandra Stabinge, a gardener, biologist, entrepreneur, and mother of three, has made it her mission to encourage every Latvian to find the heirloom crops of their family. Sandra's call, "If each of us found just one family heirloom crop, we would be rich!" has become the movement's motto, inspiring people across Latvia. With the Latvian Permaculture Society, Sandra has created an extensive network of seed exchange points and savers throughout Latvia, organized countless workshops and educational events, and developed a seed database. Thanks to her efforts and those of other enthusiasts, we are one step closer to preserving our unique cultural heritage for future generations.
But it all started slowly.
2012:First Seed Exchange event in Latvia
Seed exchange events were already organized within a closed community - the "Vides veselības saime" (Environmental Health Family) subcommittee of the Latvian Organic Farming Association, which organized monthly educational meetings.
In 2012, the courage and determination arose to organize the first public seed exchange. Anta Sparinska, the director of the LU Botanical Garden, supported this idea and permitted to organize such a public seed exchange within the framework of the Spring Garden Festival: Latvia's first public seed exchange on April 28, from 12:00 to 14:00 at the LU Botanical Garden as part of the Spring Festival - https://www.botanika.lu.lv/par-mums/zinas/zina/t/31633/
Sandra Stabinge set up a booth and brought her own seeds to exchange. Garden festival visitors, of course, had never heard of such a thing before. Visitors didn't have their own seeds with them. Many took the seeds at the exchange point because they could get them for free.
2013:The Latvian Permaculture Society and Sandra Stabinge join forces https://gaismasdarbinieki.blogspot.com/2013/02/permakultura-veseliga-partika-seklu.html A year later, Sandra Stabinge and the few founding enthusiasts of the Latvian Permaculture Society decided to work together. An event was organized, the main goal of which was to gather and exchange knowledge about permaculture and organic farming. They shared solutions that work and ideas that are worth trying.
2014: Scientists Join the Seed Saving Movement
https://www.apollo.lv/5858857/darza-darbi-tuvojas-aicina-mainities-ar-seklam, https://zeme-buve.org/index.php/zinas/nekustamais-ipasums/it/454
A seed exchange event, attended by approximately 50 people, took place at the "Ekovirtuve" health and natural food cafe. The event aimed to promote biodiversity by encouraging the preservation and cultivation of heirloom varieties.
Līga Lepse, a leading researcher at the Pūre Horticulture Research Center, shared her expertise in collecting high-quality seeds and answered participants' questions. The event concluded with a community sing-along and a free seed exchange. Attendees were encouraged to bring descriptions and photos of their seeds to share with others.
2015: Pioneering Regional Seed Exchange and Cross-Border Collaboration
Latgale witnessed its first public seed exchange in Ambeļi, Daugavpils district, on March 7, 2015. Approximately 20 enthusiastic seed savers from nearby regions gathered to share seeds, knowledge, and heirloom varieties. The event featured an informative lecture by Līga Lepse on seed saving techniques.
http://latgola.permakultura.lv/2015/03/ambelos-notika-latgale-pirma-publiska-seklu-maina/#more-784
The annual central seed exchange in Ikšķile further expanded the movement's reach by attracting participants from neighboring countries, including Lithuania and Estonia. This cross-border collaboration laid the foundation for future international partnerships.
2016-2019: A Quest for Knowledge
As the seed saving community in Latvia grew, a pressing need for knowledge became evident. While many people attended seed exchanges to collect seeds, few understood the intricacies of seed harvesting. Even experienced seed savers often questioned their techniques, seeking assurance that their seeds would produce healthy and true-to-type plants. Despite the presence of knowledgeable scientists and gardeners in Latvia, the traditional practice of seed saving has largely been lost. Recognizing the importance of education for the movement's sustainability, the community actively sought partners to develop and deliver practical training programs.
2016
The annual Seed Exchange was held in partnership with Ikšķile Free School on January 9, 2016. This event marked a significant step forward, as the concept of a Seed Library was further developed and refined with the help of scientists. Together, they worked to establish standardized Latvian terminology related to seed saving. Pictured: Guntra Aistara, the pioneer of seed saving in Latvia, and Sandra Stabinge on the exciting day of the seed library's opening.
https://www.facebook.com/permakultura.lv/photos/t.100005562188288/980219342076741/?type=3
Later that year, Sandra Stabinge traveled to Copenhagen to connect with Danish seed savers at a special seed exchange event. These valuable connections sparked the idea for future collaborations.
2017
Latvian seed savers are joining forces with their Danish counterparts to brainstorm new ways to cooperate and develop seed libraries. Meanwhile, the annual tradition of seed exchanges continues to thrive, with popular events taking place in Riga's Kalnciema Street Market and Ikšķile's Free School.
For the first time, libraries are getting involved in the seed saving movement in Latvia. Penkule Library has expressed interest in organizing a seed exchange event and maintaining an exchange point. The launch event was well-attended, with people showing great interest in seeds, exchanging them, and many bringing their own heirloom varieties.
In 2018-2019, Latvian seed savers joined forces with their counterparts in Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania through the NORDPLUS project "Growing Seed Savers". This collaboration led to the creation of valuable educational materials and inspired expeditions to diverse regions of Latvia, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of local seed diversity.
https://growingseedsavers.org/page/4/
https://growingseedsavers.org/educational-program-for-seed-saver/
International cooperation has highlighted concerns about whether Latvian laws adequately protect agricultural genetic resources. To address these concerns, seed savers from the Baltic countries and Denmark met with Latvian policymakers and experts in 2019 to discuss seed legislation.
2020-2024: Building the Seed Saver People's Movement
A training program developed in collaboration with seed savers from the Baltic States and Denmark bears fruit. Courses and training materials are helping Latvian seed savers become knowledgeable and grow in number, leading to a broader impact on society. Communication with the public requires a clear message, precise definitions, and a visually distinct image. Therefore, the brand of heirloom crops is being developed and strengthened in people's minds, and definitions and terminology related to seed saving are being clarified. Discussions have taken place with government officials to establish a legal framework for seed saving, resulting in a compromise. These are strong years, with approximately 30 seed savers completing their training, receiving certificates each year, and increasing the number of seed exchange points across Latvia. Cooperation with cultural institutions strengthens ties to our roots. Seed saving goes hand-in-hand with preserving folk traditions and cultural heritage. The restrictions imposed by the pandemic forced us to seek new ways to exchange and distribute seeds, bringing seed saving online. Even after lifting restrictions, training continues in a hybrid format: evening webinars culminate in in-person seed exchange events where training graduates receive certificates from the society, and everyone exchanges seeds. Cooperation with libraries is becoming widespread, and seed exchange events are transforming into seed exchange points that have been operating for several months. The most active seed savers are becoming ambassadors for heirloom crops, creating local seed saver groups, and involving the local community in the movement. The movement is developing standards for documenting heirloom crops, and a database has been created that, by 2024, has more than 80 heirloom crops from all over Latvia registered.
There is still much to grow, but a strong foundation for a people's movement has been laid!
2020
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Creation of the "Heirloom Crop" Brand: The first seed saver courses were held in Ikšķile, and the first certificates were issued. A dedicated website, https://www.mantots.permakultura.lv/zimols, was created to promote this new brand and initiative. [Image descriptions: Photos of Sandra Stabinge at a seed exchange and training event in Ikšķile.]
Organized Working Meeting: "How to Protect Heirloom Crops" on October 29, 2020
Participants included representatives of the Permaculture Society, Līga Lepse and Edgars Rubauskis from the Horticulture Institute, Anta Sparinska from the Horticulture School, the State Plant Protection Service (VAAD), the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM), the University of Latvia (LLU), and Dainis Ruņģis from the Latvian Genetic Resources Centre.
Agenda:
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Efforts of the Latvian Permaculture Society in the Preservation and Cultivation of Heirloom Crops
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Defining Criteria for Heirloom Crops and Identifying Challenges
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Legal Issues Related to Seeds from the Perspective of Seed Savers:
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Incorporating the Preservation of Heirloom Crops and Seed Growing into Horticulture, Agriculture, and Organic Agriculture Curricula: A discussion on including these topics in educational programs at various levels,
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Clarification of Seed Exchange Legality: Discussions with government representatives confirmed that seed exchange in Latvia is legal under existing seed legislation.
Summary: This meeting marked a significant step in formalizing the seed saving movement in Latvia. Participants discussed the importance of preserving heirloom crops, the challenges faced by seed savers, and the need for a supportive legal framework. The meeting also highlighted the importance of education and public awareness in promoting seed saving.
2021-2022: Online Accessibility and Expanded Reach
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Online Courses: Seed saving courses became accessible online, making them available to a broader audience.
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Expanded Seed Exchange Network: Seed exchange events evolved into ongoing seed exchange points in libraries and other community spaces.
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International Collaboration: The "Growing Seed Savers in Museums" project, in collaboration with Nordic partners, expanded the movement's reach.
2023: Annual Traditions and Expanded Network
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Annual Training and Seed Exchange: A new tradition was established: annual seed saving courses followed by a large-scale seed exchange event, with subsequent regional events and lectures throughout the year.
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Growing Network: 24 seed exchange points operated for three months in the spring, reaching at least 500 visitors.
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Online Courses and Certification: 50 participants enrolled in the 2023 online seed saving course, with 21 receiving certificates upon completion.
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Annual Seed Exchange: The course concluded with a seed exchange at the National Botanical Garden in Salaspils.
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Cultural Integration: Folk musicians became involved, reflecting the connection between seed saving and cultural heritage. The event "Grow Peas" took place in the autumn of 2023.
2024: Expanding the Seed Saving Network
Growing Network and Experience: The network of seed exchange points continued to expand in 2024 as more individuals became involved in seed saving and gained valuable experience.
Partnership with "Lieto vēlreiz": The "Use Again" initiative joined the movement, promoting seed exchange points on its platform and reaching a broader audience. This partnership helped increase seed saving awareness and connect with a new audience.
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Link to 2024 course and exchange:
https://www.mantots.permakultura.lv/post/macibas-maina-2024
Successful Seed Saving Course and Exchange: The 2024 seed saving course attracted 47 participants, including experienced seed savers, and 15 individuals completed the course. The course concluded with a seed exchange event at the Ādaži Library on January 27th, inspiring participants and seed ambassadors.
Community-Led Seed Exchanges: Seed ambassadors organized seed exchange events in various locations across Latvia, including Dundaga, Kolka, Liezēre, Kuldīga, Riga (near Gemoss stores), Valmiera, and Liepāja.
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Example of a seed exchange event:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1392946174921217&set=gm.7389223104500108&idorv
Growing Interest from Libraries: Several libraries (in Krapē, Viļāni, and Aglona) expressed interest in hosting seed exchange events and establishing permanent seed exchange points, inviting seed ambassadors to lead these initiatives.
Summary of Key Points:
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Expanded Network: The network of seed exchange points continued to grow, with increased participation from individuals and organizations.
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Digital Outreach: Partnerships with organizations like "Lieto vēlreiz" helped to reach a wider audience through online platforms.
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Successful Training and Events: Annual seed saving courses and subsequent exchange events attracted a growing number of participants.
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Community-Led Initiatives: Seed ambassadors played a crucial role in organizing local seed exchange events.
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Increased Institutional Support: Libraries and other community organizations showed a growing interest in supporting seed saving initiatives.
Overall, 2024 marked another year of significant growth and development for the seed saving movement in Latvia, demonstrating the increasing popularity and impact of these grassroots efforts.
The seed saving movement in Latvia is still far from widespread recognition and integration into everyday life, but the idea has gained recognition at various levels of society. A significant portion of the public recognizes the brand "Heirloom Crop," and many have heard of the importance of growing one's own seeds. Even if people don't personally grow their family's heirloom seeds, they generally agree with and support the idea of self-sufficiency and the right to food independence.
Our goal remains unchanged: to create a future where every family in Latvia has access to and cultivates their own heirloom crops. We will continue to work diligently to make seed saving a common practice, empowering individuals to grow their own food and strengthen their connection to the land and their heritage.
Šīs lapas saturs sagatavots projekta "“Digitālas mantoto kultūraugu izglītības izveide Āfrikas pārtikas sistēmu noturībai klimata krīzē”" ietvaros. Projekts saņēmis Ārlietu ministrijas finansējumu 2024. gadā no attīstības sadarbības budžeta.
