What to Expect at the Reclaim the Seeds Festival
Reclaim the Seeds organizes an annual event that combines the exchange of seeds and information with discussions on political themes, practical workshops, and lectures on topics related to seeds and sustainability. The festival is generously hosted at the beautiful Fruituin van West.
Here is what you can expect when you join us this March:
Seed Swap and Exchange
At the heart of the Reclaim the Seeds Festival is our seed swap and exchange. Everyone is invited to share and swap their saved seeds at our exchange table. Here we practice the tradition of trading seeds with our neighbors, sharing bounties, and reclaiming the life that is in each and every seed!
Workshops, Talks, and Lectures
Reclaim the Seeds organizes a relevant educational program that explores seed and food autonomy. Each year, organizations and individuals are invited to share a presentation or workshop with the group (for free, of course!). We ensure a diverse collection of voices and feature local and international organizations.
Market
Reclaim the Seeds hosts a market featuring a diverse range of products and sellers, connecting you with local growers in and around Amsterdam. On the market, you’ll (often) find seeds, plants, herbal medicines, some yummy pantry items, art, and much more!
Volunteer with us!
We are entirely volunteer-run! Want to join our team or help out at the festival? Send us an email at [email protected]
Why “Reclaim the Seeds”?
The Reclaim the Seeds movement aims to raise awareness of the fragile situation of seeds in order to contribute to the fight for more biodiversity and a more sustainable and robust food system. By stimulating the exchange of rare and separate breeds, the project contributes directly to this. At the festival, our programme also covers other practical, theoretical, and political agriculture-related topics focused on decentralisation and autonomy.
Reclaim the Seeds was created as a protest against new EU regulations for seeds and seed potatoes. Partly due to broad European opposition, the proposals were voted down by the European Parliament. Another reason was the rapid acquisition of various seed companies by a small number of large multinationals. It is mainly chemical companies that now also dominate the seed market.
Opposition to patents on crops and climate-neutral “fossil-free” agriculture is also currently a spearhead of Reclaim the Seeds. More background information on these topics and reports from the past years can be found on www.reclaimtheseeds.nl
De Fruittuin van West vind je op de Tom Schreursweg 48. We raden je aan met de fiets of openbaar vervoer te komen. Aangezien sommige bezoekers ook van ver komen, parkeren bij de Fruittuin is gratis. Meer over je route? fruittuinvanwest.nl/contact/
