Year of Plenty

Thu., Sept. 3, 2009

Crop Diversity, Seed Saving and the Future of Food

If you got 17 minutes it's worth watching this TED Talk by Cary Fowler. In it he describes the importance of preserving plant genetic material in order to be prepared for an unknown climate future. He highlights the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. One interesting tidbit from the talk; he mentions that in the 1800's there were 7,100 named varieties of apples grown in the US. Today, 6800 of those varieties are extinct, never to be see again. If you want to blow a whole afternoon gazing into the pixels of your computer screen go to the TED site and check out the offerings. Go here for the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

Posted Sept. 3, 2009, 7:10 a.m.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com