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On wildness: Community and control in urban green space

Photo credit: Kristen Fahrig

The city is a structured place. Roads and sidewalks follow mainly straight lines, while houses, apartment buildings, offices and shops march dutifully alongside them, one after the other. Many of us live structured lives within our concrete, highly controlled world, following the schedules, routines, and norms of our workplaces and leisure activities. Urban green space is often no different -- processions of trees stand on manicured turf and garden beds are filled with neat lines of annuals. Community use of park space is defined and limited by a stifling array of municipal policies, bylaws, permits and red tape.

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community gardens community building seed saving design for democracy urban gardens Toronto parks arts programs

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rabble interview

Three Colombian women tell us why preserving seeds is an act of resistance

Photo: flickr/Global Crop Diversity Trust

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Protection of native seeds is growing strong in Colombia. Colombian women are preserving seeds from multiple threats such as mining, free trade agreements, agrochemicals, hybrid and transgenic seeds among others.

Fernanda Sánchez Jaramillo spoke with three women from three different provinces in Colombia about how being a seed guardian is an act of resistance, promotes food security and maintains cultural identity.

 

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Colombia food security farmers seed saving seed guardian women farmers

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We welcome your comments! rabble.ca embraces a pro-human rights, pro-feminist, anti-racist, queer-positive, anti-imperialist and pro-labour stance, and encourages discussions which develop progressive thought. Our full comment policy can be found here. Learn more about Disqus on rabble.ca and your privacy here. Please keep in mind:

Do

  • Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
  • Add context and background.
  • Report typos and logical fallacies.
  • Be respectful.
  • Respect copyright - link to articles.
  • Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

  • Use oppressive/offensive language.
  • Libel or defame.
  • Bully or troll.
  • Post spam.
  • Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.
Activist Toolkit weekly roundup: Prison Industrial Complex, gender 101, direct actions
By
Steffanie Pinch
| March 30, 2012

While the budget was released, activists were already speaking out. It was clear before the budget hit Parliament that it was not going to be written with poor folks, seniors and other minorities in mind, that it would be full of cuts to social services, communities and jobs -- in other words, it's #notourbudget. With economic uncertainty looming, there's no better time to organize against Harper's mega-prisons and take direct action.

Like what you see? Want to add a tool? The Activist Toolkit is an interactive wiki! Find out how to add tools and edit.

Read more

Host a seed swap

saving seeds is a small act with a big impact

Seed exchanges are events where local seeds are shared within the community. They act as great opportunities for education, community building and encouraging biodiversity. But actually hosting a seed exchange is another matter altogether. Like any event, it takes some advance planning, dedication and motivated activists. This guide will cover:

Why host
What seeds to exchange
Basic organizing

Why host

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Tags:
food security local food community organising environmental justice farmer's rights seeds seed saving

Seedy Saturday in Maynooth

Saturday, March 15, 2014 - 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Location

Old Community Centre
Hwy 62
Maynooth, ON
Canada
45° 13' 53.0364" N, 77° 56' 14.5428" W
See map: Google Maps

Join us for our 5th annual Seedy Saturday in Maynooth at the old community center.

Bring your seeds to trade with others or browse the offerings of a number of local seed vendors and farmers.

Meet other seed nuts, vendors, and have a good meal.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1400782646843014/

Tags:
gardening seed saving seedy saturday

Scarborough seedy Saturday

Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 1:00pm

Location

Heron Park Recreation Centre
292 Manse Rd at Lawrence Ave E 5 blocks S/E o fKingston Rd and Lawrence E
Toronto, ON M1E 3V4
Canada
Phone: 416-691-5173
43° 46' 6.2832" N, 79° 10' 31.4832" W
See map: Google Maps

The third annual Scarborough seedy Saturday is bigger and better than ever!

This day promises to be fun for gardeners and friends of planet Earth. There will be a chance to exchange seeds with other seed savers, to buy heirloom and organic seeds from vendors and learn more about gardening from GardenGurus such as the Toronto Master Gardeners . Or attend one of our workshops and learn about all season growing, seed saving and starting, Balcony Gardening and more!

Tables will include heirloom and organic seed vendors, worm composting, bee products, backyard gardening, local community groups, garden associations and environmental/nature groups such as Rouge Park, the TRCA and  the North American Native Plant Society.

Tags:
environment food security gardening organice seed saving greening
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