South Valley Academy, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Students from the South Valley Academy, check out the drivers seat of the Seed Story Broadcasting Station van.

The day after the Machine Wilderness atmosphere of ISEA2012, Seed Broadcast slowly made its way down Isleta Boulevard, to the South Valley. This is the traditional agricultural area of Albuqueque, situated in the fertile bosque of the Rio Grande. We had been invited to the local high school, South Valley Academy. This Charter High School is a series of cream-colored porta-cabins, nestled in between huge, ancient cottonwoods, with a population of students from local New Mexican families and new immigrants from south of the border. Five years ago, Richard Brandt, a South Valley local, initiated Dragon Farms, on a piece of land adjacent to the school; to educate the students in local growing practices and healthy eating. Check out this wonderful community/school project at: http://www.southvalleyacademy.org/dragonfarm/

Garden beds at the South Valley Academy, Dragon Farms

 
The principal, Kata Sandoval had arranged for the science teachers to bring their students over to the mobile unti, although at one point a class of students arrived reading books, it was the reading class! We engaged the students in a dialogue around the importance of seed saving and guided them in numerous experiences, which included wheat pasting printed seeds on the outside of the mobile unit, accessing audio and video information via the technology set up inside the unit and sorting, packaging, and labeling seeds. Many of the students asked to take some of the seeds with them, as they had gardens at home. They loved the blue corn and creeping onions from Fodder Farm. We were told that their families, often grandparents, grew corn and squash and some had apple and peach trees. Many of the students talked of ranches that were left behind in Mexico.

Students check out the interior of the Broadcast Station, listen to seed stories, and note their own on the seed story board.

One of the teachers suggested that they take some of the seeds and plant them at the Dragon Farm site to record and keep track of how they grow. They also talked about starting their own seed library. We asked that they keep us updated on the progress. We hope to be able to visit again. Thank you to all the teachers, Kata Sandoval, and Richard Brandt for making this visit so informative.

ISEA 2012 Block Party - Seed Broadcast

SeedBroadcast Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station spent an evening sharing seed stories on Central Avenue, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the International Symposium on Electronic Art, ISEA2012 Block Party, on September 26, 2012.

Albuquerque area residents, along with ISEA visitors, explored the Broadcast Station, listening to seed stories from around the country and watching videos like Seeds of Freedom, by The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network, and our very own video, Letter From a Seed Broadcaster.

Drawing and writing on the Seed Broadcast "Germination Board," many people answered the questions, WHY IS SEED SAVING IMPORTANT? WHY DO YOU SAVE SEEDS? citing needs for survival, grassroots control over resources, and the poetry implicit in each act of planting and saving seeds.

Folks also participated in the SeedBroadcast event by filling out questionnaires and voicing their thoughts about the importance of seed saving, favorite seeds, sharing seeds, and concerns about seed saving. This fall, as we wrap up the 2012 tour, we will be including these textual thoughts in the blog. So stay posted for the publication of these digests and if you are interested in contributing your own questionnaire, these are available online for you to fill out and submit. Check it out at: SeedBroadast Online Questionnaire.

Several passerby's asked for seed saving information and used the SeedBroadcast Bulletin Board to copy and take references home, to further pursue their own seed saving experiments. One document that we have, from the Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library, was of particular interest: Seed Saving Guidelines.  You can find other downloadable information from seed saving organizations around the world at our Online Bulletin Board. And, if you have a reference source you would like to share, email us, and let us know about it, so we can include it in the Online Bulletin Board.

Many local gardeners were also interested in locating or forming an Albuquerque Seed Swap. There were rumors of one being organized in the South Valley, and one last year at the Hubbell House, and in Old Town. If anyone knows of a local seed swap in Albuquerque, let us know, so we can pass on the information. Also, you can contact the Gardeners Guild of Albuquerque and check out their website to find out about more organizations across the city, who are supporting local food and gardening interests. These may be excellent places to start forming seed swaps. Also, ask you neighbors if they have seeds to share. You might be surprised how many people save seeds and grow gardens. It is simply incredible.

Best and in Seed Solidarity,
the seedbroadcasters

SeedBroadcasting in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Join us for an afternoon of Seed Broadcasting!

SeedBroadcast Mobile Seed Story Broadcasting Station, in partnership with Dragon Farms and Valle Encantado, will be at the ISEA2012 Block Party, on Sunday, September 23, from 4pm - 9pm, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We will be interviewing local folks and broadcasting seed stories. The broadcasting station will also be open for everyone to check out: to copy seed resources, to listen to stories from across the country, and to help wheat paste pictures of seeds all over the van.

Event details
September 23, 2012
Time: 4pm - 9pm
We will be parked on the south side of Central Ave between 5th & 6th Streets
Albuquerque, New Mexico 
For more information:
Email: SeedBroadcast@gmail.com
Call: 1-575-718-4511

Download event pdf