FOOD GLORIA'S FOOD - April 2017 - Kansas City
Dig In, Get Your Hands Dirty and Reap the Harvest
By Gloria Gale
Ask a kid where food comes from and the answer may be a simple as “The store.”
Dayna McDaniel wants to replace that notion with a far more experiential one—seeds.
Dedicated to the fantastic mission of collecting, cataloging, and sharing seeds, McDaniel is the founder of Seed Savers, a metro-wide Kansas City organization with a mission to promote and propagate heirloom (non-GMO/non-terminator) seeds through the sharing of seeds and seed saving techniques and information.
The range of available seeds includes “Non-GMO vegetables, annuals, perennials, natives, shrubs, and trees. Native plants are very well adapted to our conditions and weather extremes better than exotics. We recommend their use for their durability, beneficial insect attraction, and increasing the diversity of food sources for wildlife in your gardens,” says McDaniel.
The soulful intent of Seed Savers reaches beyond the exchange to encompass a range of benefits not just to our community but communities at large.
According to the group website, here’s a sampling:
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Teaching new generations skills such as how to save open pollinated seeds from prior harvest then use them at planting.
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Promote and advise people on sustainable gardening practices.
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Negotiating with the Land Bank Trust to acquire vacant neighborhood lots and turn them into community gardens.
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Presenting seed saving topics at speaking engagements across the metro.
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Operating a Seed Library where seeds can be checked out.
The business of exchanging seeds takes place Monday –Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Anita B Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, Missouri.
Patrons can check out seeds that will eventually be replenished. Patrons are also asked to attend one of the free classes taught by the organization, read online literature devoted to seed saving techniques, and watch a webinar on line. And all of this is supported by donations—as little as a $1.00 will afford a lifetime membership in this little but mighty nonprofit. Not much for a worthwhile effort that keeps on giving.
Annually, Seed Savers conducts educational events for hundreds of people from preschoolers to adults. Classes can be scheduled on-site or anyone can come to Seed Saver classes held twice monthly at the Troost location Discovery Center.
A Winter Seed Exchange takes place in January and a much anticipated Spring Plant Exchange is held in early May. Check out the Seed Saver’s Facebook page for dates.
The whole idea of giving, getting, and, nurturing this bounty is mind-boggling. Just think how seeds can prevent famine or boost a self-sustaining endeavor. It’s a whole new way to propagate that will make you think twice the next time you want to throw away seeds from fruits or vegetables.
Mighty cucumbers from little seeds grow!
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Kansas City writer, producer, and photostylist Gloria Gale is a sleuth when it comes to discovering interesting features for the media.
As a native she's compiled a burgeoning collection of editorial features on food, travel and lifestyle for national and local magazines, books, individuals, and corporate clients.
Most recently, Gloria profiled area restaurants as a columnist for 435 Magazine and was one of KCUR's Food Critics radio program.
Want to know where to find the best tastes in town? Contact Gloria: ggale@everestkc.net