While the demand for local organic produce has risen rapidly, the supply of locally grown organic seed has not kept up and the farmers you rely on for delicious local food struggle to locally source the quantity and quality of seed they need.
A handful of farmers knew it was time to increase the quantity and improve the quality ecological and organic seed grown in BC, and the BC Eco Seed Co-op was born! As a producers co-op of 18 farmers we’re working together to provide seed to growers of all sizes in bulk and packet quantities.
Citizens like you are more concerned now, than ever, about their food security as the COVID-19 pandemic and want to know how they can support farmers and be part of strengthening a resilient system. As a small business made up of farmers we hear you, 2020 has been a year like no other. We’re so glad to see folks like you buying local seed and growing more food and want to grow more together!
Since 2014 we’ve been operating out of a shared office space and now need a “room of our own” of expanded commercial space to increase capacity, meet the demand for BC-grown seed, and to store and package seed safely, efficiently and with care. We want to meet the need for seed and hope you’ll join us along the way, read on to be part of seeding change!
In 2012 a handful of farmers, who happen to love seed saving, had the idea that together we could make our seeds available to the larger community of farmers and gardeners across BC. Rather than each starting our own small seed companies we saw the co-operative business model as a powerful way to achieve greater farmer cooperation and, along the way, support and learn from each other while changing the seedscape of the province. We supply 100% BC-grown, organic and ecological seeds. All seeds are open-pollinated, GE-free, regionally selected, and grown by our members, on our farms across the province.
Why does this matter? Local, organic/ ecological seeds are good for the planet, the local economy, and regional food diversity and security. Organic seed offers broad public benefit, including minimizing environmental impacts, supporting the success of the organic food industry, and bolstering regional food diversity and security (State of Organic Seed, 2016. Organic Seed Alliance).
Diversity is key to achieving resilience in our food system - local farmers prioritize flavour, quality and regional adaptation - essentials for adapting to a changing climate.
When you support the BC Eco Seed Co-op not only are you supporting this business but those of all our members, the local economy and food system. As a co-op we follow the seven cooperative principles including democracy and concern for community, while taking a triple bottom line approach to business putting concern for people and the planet at the forefront.
Now, in our fifth year of sales we’ve outgrown our shared office and packing space at Glorious Organics and need to expand to a space of our own to increase operations, serve more customers and enhance our quality assurance protocols.
While we’ve secured the trailer itself, we need an additional $15,000 to make our operational dreams a reality. This will fund the footings, electrical upgrade, germination chamber, quality assurance supplies, system upgrade, shelving and work space provisions to make this dream a reality for this packaging season. Our vision for the future is beautiful and ambitious and we need your support to help us get there and grow to meet demand for 2021.
Help us expand our space to increase seed security in BC!
Without your assistance, this project will not be possible. Supporting the BC Eco Seed Co-op means you can feel good about supporting not only a local small business but seeding change in our food system. Help us deliver the next step in achieving resilient local food systems across BC and join us in this seed revolution!
Every time you share this campaign you help to seed this movement! The following actions can make a huge difference, consider
SHARING this campaign page via the buttons below and through your networks
CONTRIBUTING what you can
SIGNING UP for our newsletter (http://eepurl.com/cEzhXf) to learn more about what we’re doing
TALKING to friends, family, garden groups and your networks about the importance of local seed
GETTING IN TOUCH if you know a funder or allied organization we should know about
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We are incredibly humbled and grateful for everyone involved in this campaign and all of the contributions we saw in so many different ways, from sharing the info with your friends and family, to buying a reward. It all made a difference and got us to where we are now. We couldn’t have done it without you!
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