Planning for a New Seed Bank

The new building will be a blue print for community seed self-reliance resulting in a greater food security.

WHAT IS THE SEED BANK FOR?

It will be a place where seeds and other planting material after harvest can be processed, dried, accessionned, stored and distributed.

WHY A SEED BANK?

Seed storage is paramount to seed longevity.

A carefully designed seed bank built in 2001/2002 at the Seed Gardens in Byron Bay will be a blue-print for a community seed bank, how it functions. It will be also housing some of the invisible structures and administration of a seed network that is housed in the

Urban and rural community based organisations, regional NGOs working with domestic and semi-subsistence food production may choose to inventory, multply, store and distribute seeds that are used in agriculture but also all organisms useful to agriculture.

A seed bank will help the self reliance of organisations by making plants that constitute agricultural biodiversity available to all. Additionally, should they choose to sell seeds, a seed unit would be a fund raiser.

A carefully designed seed bank built in 2000 / 2001 at the Seed Gardens in Byron Bay will be a blue-print of what a physical seed bank looks like and how it functions as well as housing some of the invisible structures and administration of a seed network.

The seed bank will house the existing seed bank/office presently in the garage of the house of Michel and Jude.

It will include these spaces, in order of importance:-

A small seed storage bunker with natural air cooling and dehumidifying - aiming at a constant 18 degrees C through semi underground building and large air pipes bring in cool and dry air;

A small root bank cellar with appropriate sand pits to store taro, potatoes, gingers, etc., through the hot season until replanting in autumn.

A rodent proof seed cleaning and solar drying room - to let seeds heads (e.g., lettuce, parsnip, okra, beans) to dry further, with warm air from roof-top solar panels forced through the room;

A wet seed processing area for the cucumbers, pumpkins and tomatoes type area with taps, deep sinks, and processing benches;

An area in which to packet seeds before they are put into storage;

A front office for reception, mail handling and answering telephone enquiries;

Two separate small rooms as office spaces;

An enclosed library with space for magazines and computer, photocopier.

Outside separate teaching platform, verandah style;

Multipurpose training room with collapsible walls cum permanent office and work station for volunteers, cum dormitory for larger numbers of students;

For further information

Classification

Subject  Local Seed Networks
Regional relation  Global
Audience  Local Seed Groups - Teachers and Educators
Physical format  Archives and databases