Open Source Gene Bank Log
Tue Apr 14, 2020
I currently have two basic operations on my farm. One is our food production, which is a diverse range of annuals and perennials. I am in the process of merging the two into a more unified mirage of food using a mix of beneficial farm techniques including a hedgerow system, cover cropping & crop rotation, natives, and more. I also have developed a no-till practice that maintains the integrity of the soil and integrates in place composing to become more efficient for time, energy, and resources. I realized that my role as a farmer is primarily creating habitats for the more-than-human world to do it's work and though I am young, I believe I am stumbling on a system that is replicable and needed. I believe I can also calculate precisely how much carbon is sequestered on the farm, which would be very interesting if multiplied. We can go into it later, but I also have a compost-heated greenhouse design that might aid in food in the ground year round for us colder climate folks. I have been trying to figure out how to do this DIY, but I will likely need some of the tech that you have delved into to accomplish this task successfully.
The second and primary reason I reached out is my seed operation. I currently have four isolated patches around the land I tend to that are dedicated to growing seed. While I have primarily been growing seed for other seed companies around the country to try to gain financial sustainability, I have launched my own seed exchange to share the seeds that I have been working on in addition with those I have grown for others. This is a mix of long-form breeding projects and projects I have inherited from elder farmers. While I see this business being successful in my bioregion, I want to see it impact more than my small circle and so with that in mind I am very open to seeing where a collaboration might take us.
For my initial plan: I imagine a local would be able to upload the site, click what region that they were growing in and see all the seed that was saved in that area. After passing through that wall, they would be given access to all the seed, in any region, that was in the seed bank. This would create data for where people are needing/wanting seed and what kinds of seed they are wanting, which could be accessible information to all of the seed grower. In theory, we could then work on adapting specific varieties of seeds to specific regions based on needs/desires. My current model is that the seed organization works as a member shared co-op made primarily of the seed-growers. The idea would be each growers goes through a trial period of three years where they save seed in a formulated and educational sequence (primarily seed in the bank that needs to be increased) and get payed for it much like the model that I have worked under with other seed companies. After which they would have the opportunity to join the seed exchange, share the economy, and begin specializing in seed varieties/ventures to continue to diversify the bank. The three years can either be done remotely with all the information needed shared open source or through an on-site incubator type program (which the owners of the land that I am tending are considering). Does this vision fit OSE? I am instantly thinking of the interested and effective tech that could be developed for the seed industry. Anyways, I look forward to hearing your bounce back.
be well, jess
Fri Apr 11, 2020
From Jess Cherry - I am writing from the North Quabbin region of Massachusetts. I manage a small organic farm and have started an open-pollinated and open-source bioregional seed exchange. I heard you on the Buddhist Geek podcast and was really interested with your system. After digging into your website a bit, I would love to receive more information. I am considering expanding the seed exchange further into the open-source model. The seed industry, especially with the current pandemic, has increased significantly and I want to de-centralize the exchange, so that it may filter into more communities while maintaining it's core value of bioregionalism. Could be an interested product for the idea. i am also curious to hear what is informing your understanding of agriculture and if I could offer my experience to open source ecology. Look forward to hearing from you.
be well, jess
MJ Sez - My understanding is informed by perennial polyculture work of Badgersett Research, forest farming, soil food web, bioregionalism, Miracle Orchard, Afforestt, and others. I consider Fukuoka and Rodale Institute as some of the founders. We also did our aquaponic greenhouse.
We are into open enterprise, and the open source nursery is one of the components we'd like to have here. We're also into autonomous tech such as GPS chicken tractors or robotic milkers. Plus biotecture with bee walls and ecotopes for useful species. We experimented with each to some extent, and at the end of the day it's about building an ecologically integrated, replicable village. If we can collaborate on a business model for an open seed bank, that would be great - I could envision something with seeds of vegetables, nuts, and work on long-term breeding like Badgersett Research, and a working farm based on perennials and some annuals. For a model to work, I think it should be diversified and part of a broader operation so it's more resilient. For this, I see open source as the key - to provide for the integration of knowledge and experience. If you're willing to work openly with us on that, that would be great. Marcin
