More Art and Seeds or the Magic of Sprouting Up At Balboa Park!

A young artist we met at Balboa Park

Bringing together art and seeds….there is a wise saying that speaks to the profundity of holding just a few seeds and planting these into a cycle of relationships between humans and the earth. On the outside this looks simply as a human-centered opportunity, that is, seeds needing us to plant in order that we might harvest the bounty and nourish our practical bodies. But there is also another view, an embedded perception that opens up the magical and somewhat uncanny cycles of the world, bringing needs in touch with medicine, and inspiration in touch with hope. Seeds are the grounding for this as a journey. This journey was very much present in our SeedBroadcast travels from Anton Chico to San Diego and back again.

It began as a moment when, in Silver City, NM, we discovered inspirations of seed wisdom coupled with sheer generosity and good fortune…which seemed to continue throughout our journey.

The Tomato Guy, Rick Bohart, helping with the MSSBS in Silver City

The Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station has always been a persnickety beast, old, strong, and long winded. It always seems to get to where it needs to be by luck and a mysterious desire to wish our way there. In Silver City we broke down and a off-duty mechanic replaced the carburetor and sent us on our way. We made it to Gila and Patagonia with time to spare. But something was still wrong as we trudged westward and made a pit stop in El Centro to try our hand at very amateur SeedBroadcast-mechanic-try. So onward we chugged. I almost felt the need to recite the Little Engine That Could as we barely topped off the Laguna Mountains and puttered down to Chula Vista, San Diego.

 The next morning was looking like an utter disaster and a cancellation of the rest of our tour… but somehow we stumbled upon the most amazing mechanics who basically rebuilt the motor in a day and sent us on our way. As we met each of these people, small talk brought us to seeds, gardens, and hope. It was always the way.

That evening, while pulling into our host’s house, I turned off the van, stepped out, and saw someone I would never have expected. Michael!

Michael Ruiz lived right across the street and was out watering a plant when he saw the Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station pull up to his neighbor’s house. Surprised and somewhat confused, he came over and said, “What are you doing here?”

Wow that’s uncanny! Michael was a fellow student at VCFA (Vermont College of Fine Arts) where I went to school when I built the SeedBroadcast van and drove it to Montpelier, VT for my final thesis “exhibition” in the summer of 2012. That was the last time we had seen each other or spoken. The moment was surreal and strangely seed-like. An amazing cycle bringing us together again to inspire some seedy art.

2012 MSSBS Tour at VCFA in Montpelier, Vermont

After catching up, Michael invited us to come to Balboa Park, San Diego’s gigantic urban cultural park in the heart of the city. So spontaneously, on March 26 from 12 – 2 we set up SeedBroadcast between the Spanish Village, the Museum of Natural History, and a SYSCO semi-truck. Like a seed, we sprouted to the occasion and had the joyous opportunity to meet people, share seeds, record seed stories, and learn more about the state of local food and the goal of Balboa Park to redefine “California Landscape” in the inevitable water crisis.

Occupied! Artists At Work in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Here are Seed Stories shared from Balboa Park and also some thoughts about the words “Food Justice”

Michael Ruiz shares a Seed Story about making tortillas with his mother: https://soundcloud.com/seedbroadcast/michael-ruiz-shares-a-seed-story-about-making-tortillas-with-his-mother


Michael Ruiz shares several Seed Stories from and of Balboa Park: https://soundcloud.com/seedbroadcast/michael-ruiz-shares-several-seed-stories-from-and-of-balboa-park


Jerry Phelps talks about what food justice means and why saving seeds is so important: https://soundcloud.com/seedbroadcast/jerry-phelps-talks-about-what-food-justice-means-and-why-saving-seeds-is-so-important


Ryan Rosette talks about what food justice means to him: https://soundcloud.com/seedbroadcast/ryan-rosette-talks-about-what-food-justice-means-to-him


Did I mention the stories that seeds have to share?

More Seed Stories from Montpelier

Here are the latest Seed Story Broadcasts from Montpelier, VT. You can find these and more by visiting the Seed Story Broadcast page.

Mary Telfer talks about her first adventure with seeds she collected and planted from store bought peppers.
John Waldo shares stories from his garden which is a collaborative adventure with his friend Roy. He also talks about the bean seeds he was given by another friend, making these into a delicious chili.
Jeff Weinstein, a local commercial soup maker, shares his thoughts on local food economy, seeds, and diversity.

Seed Broadcasting at the Vermont College of Fine Arts

Seed Broadcasting on the college green.

Seed Broadcast Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station will be at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, in Montpelier, Vt, from July 29 - Aug 2, listening to seed stories and broadcasting these across the greens.  Below are some of the stories shared so far....keep listening for more seed stories and visit the Seed Story Broadcast page to find more.

We ran into MDL, an anonymous VCFA graduate student, on July 17th. MDL talked about her home grown scarlet runner beans and how she uses them in the classroom for experiential learning.

Hunter Neal shares some seed stories from George Washington to Cuban cigar seeds to the tomato seed, Mortgage Lifter, which he hopes to start saving.

Please stop by and visit us, we would love to listen to your seed stories. You can locate us at 36 College St, Montpelier, Vt, on the college green.
Hours:
July 29 130 - 430 pm
July 30 130 - 400 pm and 830 - 930 pm
July 31 130 - 430 pm
Aug 1   130 - 400 pm
Aug 2   130 - 330 pm

Or call if you would like to make an appointment - 575-512-5740
Or email: SeedBroadcast@gmail.com

Seed Broadcast at the Capital City Farmers' Market

Seed Broadcast visited the Capital City Farmers' Market on Saturday, July 30.  We met many visitors to the market along with several local producers.


Kate Milligan, a local medicinal landscaper shared her seed story with us and told us all about the local organized effort to take back health care through using herbs found in our own backyards to treat health issues. The organization she works with is actively saving seed and helping local folks to grow their own medicinal landscapes. For more information on local efforts to acknowledge and practice health care from the earth visit: Vermont Center for Integrated Herbalism.


We also met Arealles Ortiz and Emma Lutz-Higgins who shared their stories about participating in the local Montpelier High School Seed Library.

While at the farmers market we were blessed to meet Carol and Robert Mouck, two amazing seed savers with magical twinkles in their eyes.  They talked about their efforts in Ontario, founding a seed sanctuary, while trying to encourage and help others to save and grow more seeds. They are both passionate about this effort and worried that many people are not yet ready to embark on this mission. One of the most important aspects they feel the world struggles with is the simple gesture of love and generosity. Something that even seeds desire.

Thank you everyone we met for your joy, encouragement, and struggle to keep seeds in the hands of people!

Montpelier Seed Library at the local High School

Montpelier High School Gardens

Seed Broadcast met up with Tom Sabo, teacher and organizer of the Montpelier High School integrative, sustainable curriculum, where students learn everything from Spanish to Biology directly from the food they grow. This High School is also the site of the current public Montpelier Seed Library.

Picking blueberries.

Tom showed me around the High School gardens and greenhouse.  All the food they grow here goes directly to the cafeteria and is eaten daily by the students, giving them all an opportunity to experience the cycle and interconnection of food production, labor, culture, and research. We picked some blueberries and ate them along our walk.

Seed Library Cabinet

This Seed Library is housed in the High School Library.  It is accessible to the public, although the hours are limited to times when the school is open.  Tom said that he is currently discussing the possibility of growing this library and collaborating with the local, Kellog Public Library, so that the seed library will be more available to the Montpelier Community.

This library began when high school students met with local farmers who had been growing local heirloom varieties.  They listened to the stories from these local seed savers, and brought seeds back to school with them to contribute to the seed library. These are now grown at the high school gardens.

Keep listening....we hope to interview Tom later this week....