Seed Story Broadcasts from Conway, Arkansas

The following seed stories were shared during the Seed Broadcast event at Conserving Arkansas's Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) Seed Lab at the University of Central Arkansas, in Conway, Arkansas. This Seed Broadcast event was also co-hosted by several other local, Arkansas organizations working hard to promote local food and seed sovereignty.


Nancy Duke shares a seed story about a 60 year old jar of butter beans, she found in an abandoned family garage.  These beans came from her husband's, great aunt Zena Alexander's pea patch from around the 1965.


Angela Gardner, shares seed stories from her community garden and Central Arkansas New Agrarian Society (CANAS).


William McClintock shares a seed story about his garden located in Cabot, Arkansas and shares his joy to plant anywhere and eat the best food ever, from his garden.


Dr. Brian Campbell, faculty at Central Arkansas University, in Conway, Arkansas, shares seed stories from his garden and from the Conserving Arkansas Agricultural Heritage! (CAAH!).


Gerald Anderson shares a seed story from Conway, Arkansas about his permaculture dreams at his Summer Berry Farm in Tilly, Arkansas and a story about his family millet.


Lynita Langley-Ware shares a seed story about the Grow Garden and their seed saving efforts at the Faulkner County Museum, in Conway, Arkansas. She also recalls the memory her grandmother's seed saving efforts and the way we are now relearning how to do this once again.


Bryan Mader, McKenzie Earnest, and Michael McHalffey share a seed story about working with the Russellville Community Market, their work at seed swaps, and building a gardening and seed saving community among the local college students.


Michael McHaffley shares a seed story about his family's farming efforts and his desire to create an experimental educational farming opportunity for other people to learn from.

Thank you everyone for sharing your seed stories!
You can also find these seed stories and more from around the country by checking out the Seed Story Broadcast page.

Conserving Arkansas's Agricultural Heritage

Listening to Seed Stories in the Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station

Seed Broadcast visited the University of Central Arkansas, Seed Lab, on August 7, and met up with folks from Conserving Arkansas's Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!), the Arkansas Local Network, the Central Arkansas New Agrarian Society (CANAS), the Faulkner Public Library, local permaculturalists, farmers, gardeners, and a really old jar of white beans, brought in by Nancy Duke.

 Dr. Brian Campbell discussed how the CAAH! - Seed Lab and Seed Library operates and also described the challenges of community seed saving and sharing: asking others to contribute to this local seed action. CAAH!, helps regional communities start their own yearly seed swaps and promotes growing, saving, and sharing of local heirloom varieties. They have also been busy creating a regional seed library, as well as, producing feature length videos and organizing educational workshops. Check out their latest video Seed Swap. And keep an eye out for more, coming soon.

As a group, we held a round table discussion, where everyone shared thoughts from their gardens and concerns over the drought.  The entire region, much like the entire country is suffering under extremely dry conditions. This looked like the worst yet, with leaves from trees shrivelling, turning brown, and dropping.  People also shared another major environmental concern: fracking. With seismic quakes rumbling in the area, local concern and outrage has stopped the industry for now, until further study can be conducted.  On top of this, is the inevitable fear that water sources will be polluted.

Nancy Drakes, very old jar of white beans....

Even when facing issues like these, which seem bigger than any one person can deal with, the conversation returned to what is being done. Planting, growing food, digging in the dirt, saving seeds, finding seeds long thought lost, and sharing a wealth of care and commitment. It was said, that the only way we can grow stronger and more resilient is by doing. Just like plants adapting to climate change, pursuits at growing our own food, are only possible by continuing to plant, save, and share seeds of resistance.

Angela Gardner, a local gardener, loves popcorn, and loves to grow, save, and share these stories.

Dr. Campbell generously shared several of his published articles on Ozark biodiversity, traditions, and open pollinated seed swaps, check these out below:


"Closest to Everlastin'": Ozark Agricultural Biodiversity and Subsistence Traditions

Open-Pollinated Seed Exchange: Renewed Ozark Tradition as Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation

Thank you Brian, Angela, Michael, Gerald, Nancy, W.C., Bryan, and McKenzie!
The Seed Stories from Conway are coming. So check back in the next couple weeks for audio Seed Stories from CAAH!

Also, coming soon is the next Seed Story Broadcast, from the farm of Herb Culver, an Ozark seed saver, in Deer, Arkansas.

University of Central Arkansas Seed Lab

Seed Broadcast will be at the University of Central Arkansas, in Conway, AR, tomorrow from 1 pm - 4 pm, hosting Seed Story Broadcasting along with Conserving Arkansas's Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!), Arkansas Local Food Network, and the Central Arkansas New Agrarian Society. Stop by, check out the broadcasting station, and share some seed stories.