Global March Against Monsanto, Santa Fe, New Mexico!

March against Monsanto, Santa Fe, New Mexico. May 25th 2013

Saturday May 25th, 2013 "March Against Monsanto"http://www.march-against-monsanto.com/ saw the world speaking out and the voices were loud and clear!  Over two million people joined global protests against seed giant Monsanto and the genetically modified food it produces. The protests were held in 52 countries and 436 cities, including Santa Fe, New Mexico, to make a stand and shout out for rights to the freedom of our seeds,  the freedom for farmers, our food supply and for the food revolution !

Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station at the Santa Fe Farmers Market

 The Santa Fe rally was tirelessly lead by Candace Apodaca with the help of social media. "I could not have done this without Facebook", she told us as she was running from sorting the audio equipment, to locating the fog horn and corralling the local speakers. The crowds of families, farmers, poets, musicians, filmmakers, seed-lovers and concerned citizens gathered early at the Santa Fe Farmers Market in the Railyard district, where the event was opened by an invocation and prayer. Many local guests powerfully spoke out with song, poetry and wise words of encouragement and celebration.

March against Monsanto from the Santa Fe Farmers Market to the New Mexico State Capital as seen from the Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station.

The rally grew steadily throughout the morning and at least a 1,000 strong marched peacefully to the State Capital where the afternoon continued to gain community momentum and collective spirit through the very act of voicing opinions.  Many people stopped by SeedBroadcast to share their concerns for their food supply, for the future of our world and spoke freely of a burning desire to see and feel change.

Some of the signs displayed at the New Mexico State Capital

In amongst the energy and determined voices John Simmons and his children were quietly sharing their love of seeds.  John lovingly carried his magic bag full of scarlet runner beans, (his favorite seeds), pinto beans and a Hopi corn that was entrusted to him many years ago.  John has continued to grow this special variety of corn in his garden and at the Monte Del Sol school garden that he tends along with the students. He found a quiet spot in the Capital gardens opened his bag and in the spirit of generosity shared his seed wealth. What a reciprocity our seed sharing wisdom brings but what a radical act it has become!

Chalo Wells, who had driven non stop from Los Angeles to get to the rally in Santa Fe, took time out  to share his thoughts about seed saving as a cultural practice. This was one powerful day but one day is not enough.  Many wonderful connections were made but we need to continue the discourse, we need to continue to find ways to speak out, to be heard and to keep this movement growing.  Lets keep ourselves informed at a local level,  help out in the community gardens, form a neighborhood garden by removing fences and walls, share resources and continue to save and share your open pollinated seeds.  Perhaps inspire others by sharing your seed story at http://seedbroadcast.wufoo.com/forms/z7x3x5/ or create a circle of seeds http://seedfreedom.in/. 

CIRCLES OF SEEDS

A Circle of Seeds is a very simple idea:

It is to gather a group of friends or neighbours,

each of whom commits to grow and save seeds from one or more crops.

Each member selects a crop variety

 and takes on to sow, tend, harvest, clean, dry and store its seeds.

At the meetings everyone shares their seeds

and the information they have on the variety chosen.

Just imagine…

If the Circle has 12 people

and each person chooses a variety,

after one year, the Circle’s seed bank will contain seeds from 12 varieties.

The following year, each person chooses another variety

and now there are 24 varieties.

After 5 years…

AIM OF THIS PROJECT

 To create a network of Circles of Seeds throughout the country to

Rediscover, Gather and Share

our national heritage of ancient and traditional seed varieties.

In solidarity!