The term "heirloom seeds" have been floating around recently and growing in popularity, but what exactly are they and why are they important?

Heirloom seeds are plants which were grown before large scale commercial agriculture. They are open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GM seeds which have been handed down from generation to generation and are at least 40-50 years old.

Hybrids plants have been altered to look pretty, have uniformed colour and shape, to be able to withstand long distance travel  or extended shelf life. Whereas heirloom seeds are grown, saved and sought after for different reasons, for example superior flavor, color, texture and to increase the available gene pool.

"The loss of genetic seed diversity facing us today may lead to a catastrophe far beyond our imagining. The Irish potato famine, which led to the death or displacement of two and a half million people in the 1840s, is an example of what can happen when farmers rely on only a few plant species as crop cornerstones.

One blight wiped out the single potato type that came from deep in the Andes mountains; it did not have the necessary resistance. If the Irish had planted different varieties of potatoes, one type would have most likely resisted the blight." (more)

We have recently discovered a wealth of traditional vegetables here on the Wild Coast, which the Xhosa people have been passing on from generation to generation.

TOO GREAT A TOLL
Sustaining the Wild Coast fundraising calendar 2012

STOP, mining of the Wild Coast dunes and the N2 Toll road

Money raised will support the local Amadiba community, hire lawyers for their planned court challenge. For ordering and more details (click me)


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After five months, we bid a teary farewell to those we've come to call neighbours, friends and family in the community near Mbolompo Pt on the Wild Coast. I had no idea such emotions would flow through me as I repeated the only phrase I could put together that somewhat communicated my feelings: "Ndizonikhumbula!" [I will miss you all].

We came with the goal of learning isiXhosa and are now leaving with lessons of so much more - about family, about community and about all the great things that make such a place special.

After a hard slog at the end, our research project has made the important step of leaving our brains and is now available for all others to carry forward. Please have a squizz on the research page and invite others to do so as well.

Having now returned to the 'city' of Cape Town, and having been asked am I happy to be 'back in civilization', I can honestly say that there are not many people out there more civil and civilised than the friends we made while staying with the Siyephu family.

I hope that Wild Wild Coast will continue to grow and follow the really admirable principles that have brought it thusfar. Volunteers keen to learn about environmental management in a rural community could learn a lot from spending some time at Mbolompo and talking to the great people that live there.

Many thanks for everything,

Dan and Anna

Click here to go to Natural Resources research page