Swapping seeds in the spring of 2023!
In the spring of 2023 three Reclaim the Seeds events will take place, non-commercial festivals were you will be able to swap (or buy) vegetable seeds, seedlings, bulbs and cuttings. The market will also be the place to find information about gardening and agriculture and climate issues. Besides visiting the market you can participate in a program with presentations and workshops about all kind of seed- and environment related topics.
The seed fairs will take place on three different locations this year: in the village Oedelem (near Brugge), at the ‘Fruittuin van West’ in Amsterdam, and at ‘Ecodorp Zuiderveld’ in Nijmegen!
Reclaim the Seeds is an event during which the exchange of information and seeds is combined with discussions on political themes and practical workshops. The goal is to involve more people in the movement towards agriculture biodiversity and robust, sustainable food production. Reclaim the Seeds contributes directly to this by encouraging the exchange of rare and special varieties.
Reclaim the Seeds began in 2010 as a protest against the new EU seed legislation. Today, the focus is more on resistance against patents on crops and on supporting a climate neutral, ‘fossil free’ agriculture. The program also covers other practical, theoretical and political topics related to agriculture.
1. ‘Reclaim the Seeds’ in West-Vlaanderen on March 11 2023 in Oedelem (near Brugge)
It looks like it will be a very interesting seed fair this year. Already more than 20 stalls are announced on the market. On top of this there will be swap tables were everybody can exchange sell saved seeds.
You can reserve your own stall by sending an e-mail to the organisers.
The whole day you can follow all kind of workshops about seed saving, sowing seeds, gardening during climate change and more topics related to gardening. Most of this will probably be in Dutch though.
– where: Land- en Tuinbouwinstituut, Bruggestraat 190, 8730 Oedelem.
– when: March 11, 10:00 – 17:00.
– entrance fee: members Velt: 3 euro, others: 5 euro.
More information about the event is available on the website of Velt.
2. On March 18 & 19 you can swap seeds again in Amsterdam
Reclaim the Seeds 2023 is sprouting again! In the weekend of March 18 & 19 this festival will take place again at the Fruittuin van West on the West-side of Amsterdam. There will be a seed fair, lectures and workshops. More information about the programme will be published on the website of Reclaim the Seeds Amsterdam (Let op! At this moment you will still see the info about last years event.).
3. ‘Reclaim the Seeds’ goes to Nijmegen this April
On Saturday 8 April, Ecodorp Zuiderveld (Alfred Hitchcockstraat 42, Nijmegen) welcomes Reclaim the Seeds for the second time. There will be another seed market, workshops, lectures, live music and art. Follow updates and information about our program on Instagram @reclaimtheseedsnijmegen and Facebook.
Reclaim the Seeds is a movement for independent food chains and against crop patenting. With the aim of knowledge exchange stimulating the exchange of rare varieties of fruits and vegetables, it contributes to greater biodiversity in gardens and a more sustainable and robust food system. We work towards climate neutral and fossil-free agriculture, which is smaller-scale and ensures more autonomy.
On the day itself you can go to all kinds of stalls to buy, exchange or get seeds. In the community center of Ecodorp Zuiderveld, workshops and lectures will be given on alternative agricultural systems, green activism and also practical do-workshops, such as picking wild and harvesting seeds. Fun for kids too! Various art installations can be admired spread across the garden and during the day there is a varied music program.
Reclaim the Seeds Nijmegen is possible thanks to the many volunteers and active participants. Do you care to help? Send an email to rtsnijmegen@riseup.net.
