Basque People to Relearn Seed Saving

29 August 2001

The Seed Savers' Handbook has been translated into Basque and Castillian.

A group that is promoting seed saving in the Basque Country, Euskal Herriko Nekazarien Elkartasuna, has produced an adaptation of "The Seed Savers' Handbook". This brings the number of adaptations and translations of our handbook to six.

This is a booklet of 48 pages in each of Basque and Castillian (Spanish). Twenty four vegetables are featured and there is locally adjusted information.

Helen Groome of the Euskal Herriko Nekazarien Elkartasuna says: "We not only want to try and find out which varieties are left here, but also get people to use them to make sure they won't be lost."

"We found that many younger farmers and organic farmers were unable to save seeds as the relevant information had not been passed on to them by older generations, given that the 'modern' or 'professional' farmer was supposed to buy in seeds every year and not save them him/herself."

"We feel there is a growing interest in trying to save local varieties."

The handbook has been translated into Spanish in Cuba, into Khmer, into Italian, into Japanese and adapted to British conditions. Excerpts are used in several other productions.

Generally copyright is freely given, upon application, in the interests of spreading the practices of seed saving.

For further information

Classification

Subject  Local Seed Networks
Regional relation  Global
Audience  General Interest - NGOs