CIRCULOS DE SEMENTES – CIRCLES OF SEEDS – Portugal

Dr Vandana Shiva with Círculos de Sementes – Circles of Seeds, inspiring Seed Defenders from Portugal and part of The Global Movement for Seed Freedom

This project began on the 14th October 2012 following an international appeal by Navdanya to join hands for Seed Freedom globally.

In response, we organised a seed workshop in Évora, Portugal.

We decided that we must act without delay.

We searched a little bit and…

To meet the urgent need to rescue at least some of our country’s existing traditional seed, and share vital seeds knowledge, we put together the concept of Seed Circles with the idea of  a living seed bank.

And the result…

CIRCLES OF SEEDS 

A Circle of Seeds is a very simple idea:

It is to gather a group of friends or neighbours, each of whom commits to grow and save seeds from one or more crops.

Each member selects a crop variety and takes on to sow, tend, harvest, clean, dry and store its seeds.

At the meetings everyone shares their seeds and the information they have on the variety chosen.

AIM OF THIS PROJECT 

– To create a network of Circles of Seeds throughout the country to rediscover, gather and share our national heritage of ancient and traditional seed varieties.

– Share information about Seed Saving and awareness lectures all over the country

On-going activities…

• The Circles of Seeds Seed Bank
• The Circles of Seeds Network
• National gathering every year,  were we celebrate the Seeds, dance, share seeds,  good organic food, free workshops,  …
• Awareness lectures on the importance of preserving local  seed varieties
• Free Seed Saving Workshops all over the country
• Workshops for primary schools – Discovering the Seeds

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Activities   |  2016 Activities

WHAT IS NEEDED TO START A CIRCLE?

– A person to organise the Circle
– People interested in seed saving. We suggest no more than 12 people to maintain support, focus and commitment
– Availability to meet on a quarterly basis
– Seed cleaning, stirring and storing items such as bottles and strainers.
Seeds of good quality, if possible local and heirloom
– A vegetable garden
– Field diary for plant species (provided by the Circles Network)

GUIDELINES:
– People need some knowledge of seed harvesting, cleaning and storing of seed
– For groups without this knowledge, the Network offers free advice and workshops
– Priority should be given to traditional seeds but species from other regions can also be cultivated if considered important (eg Stevia)
– Transgenic and hybrid seeds or are not allowed
– The seeds are grown for free exchange. No commercial transactions should be involved
– Each person selects to take care of a plant of their choice; more can be selected if desired
– As much information as possible should be recorded about each variety in the field diary provided by the Circles Network
– Each member commits to share the seeds they have grown with other members of their Circle and with their Circle’s seed bank. In addition, each Circle contributes seeds to the Network Seed Bank
– All Circles are self-organising
– Circle meetings are recommended quarterly
– There will be a national gathering of all Circles at each year
– National Network Meetings are organised by Circles on a rotational basis
– The Network offers free advice, support and onsite workshops. Circles are responsible for
hosting workshop facilitators and covering their travel expenses
-Each circle has a coordinator responsible for liaising with the Circles Network

The Network Seed Bank
The Network Seed Bank will serve to:
– Preserve the diversity of seed
– Be a repository for all Circles
– Provide seeds for new Circles

How it works
– The Circles send their seeds to the Network Seed Bank along with their completed field diaries
– On arrival, each batch of seeds is recorded on a register with all available information
– All Circles have access to the seed register
–  Whenever the Circles need seeds, they request the varieties they want (provided they are available) and return the same variety and amount whenever they can (if possible at the end of the season)
– Postage costs are covered by the Seed Circles requesting seeds
– All batches of seed sent to Circles are accompanied by a record
– People outside the Network may also request seeds in exchange for double the yield the following year

To find out more and to register your Seed Circle with the National Network of Seed Circles, please contact:

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	Date/Time	Event
	01/03/2020 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes Montemor O Novo Montemor O Novo Portugal
	08/02/2020 10:00 am - 6:00 pm	OFICINA DE RECOLHA E CONSERVAÇÃO DE SEMENTES Vale De Santiago, Beja, Portugal Vale De Santiago, Beja, Portugal Portugal
	05/10/2019 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes Quinta Ten Chi Sintra Portugal
	10/11/2018 10:00 am - 1:00 pm	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de Sementes Largo da Nora, Évora Évora Portugal
	14/05/2018 - 15/05/2018 10:00 am - 4:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes Bragança bragança Portugal
	21/04/2018 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes Porto de Mós Porto de Mós Portugal
	25/11/2017 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm	OFICINA DE RECOLHA E CONSERVAÇÃO DE SEMENTES Pereiro Grande, Odemira Odemira Portugal
	29/10/2017 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de Sementes Casa do Oeste Ribamar Portugal
	15/10/2017 10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de Sementes Vimeiro, Torres Vedras Vimeiro Portugal
	09/07/2017 10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes - Óbidos Colheitas D’Óbidos A-da-Gorda Portugal
	08/07/2017 9:00 am - 6:30 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes - Leiria NERLEI LEIRIA Portugal
	24/06/2017 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes ALFAMA Lisboa Portugal
	28/05/2017 10:00 am	OFICINA DE RECOLHA E CONSERVAÇÃO DE SEMENTES Moita Moita Portugal
	27/05/2017 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Oficina De Recolha E Conservação De Sementes quinta da Ribafria Sintra Portugal
	04/03/2017 10:00 am - 4:00 pm	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de sementes Espaço Anagrama Lisboa Portugal
	11/09/2016 10:00 am - 12:30 pm	OFICINA DE RECOLHA E CONSERVAÇÃO DE SEMENTES MORA Mora Portugal
	17/08/2016 10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Oficina de recolha e conservação de sementes- Boom Festival
	16/07/2016 2:30 pm	Encontro de Verão, do Círculo de Sementes da Região de Mora Quinta de São José Mora Portugal
	10/06/2016 - 12/06/2016 All Day	3º ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE CÍRCULOS DE SEMENTES / 3rd NATIONAL GATHERING CIRCLES OF SEEDS Mora Mora Portugal
	23/04/2016 - 26/04/2016 9:30 am - 6:00 pm	CURSO PRÁTICO DE AGROECOLOGIA Quinta de São José Mora Portugal
	13/02/2016 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm	Encontro do Circulo de Sementes de Mora - Permapartilha de Saberes e Haveres Quinta de São José Mora Portugal
	23/01/2016 All Day	2º Encontro do Circulo de Sementes de Palmela-Setúbal Vila Nogueira de Azeitão Setubal Portugal
	20/01/2016 12:00 am	Conversa com agricultores sobre o Pau Roxo castro verde castro verde Portugal
	09/01/2016 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm	1º Encontro de 2016 do Circulo de Sementes da Região de Mora Mora Mora Portugal
	19/12/2015 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	OFICINA DE RECOLHA E CONSERVAÇÃO DE SEMENTES LISBOA LISBOA Portugal
	12/12/2015 All Day	ENCONTRO- AJUDADA DO CIRCULO DE SEMENTES DA REGIÃO DE MORA PERMA-PARTILHA DE SABERES E HAVERES Mora Mora Portugal
	06/12/2015 10:00 am	OFICINA de SEMENTES Palmela Baixa de Palmela Portugal
	22/11/2015 All Day	3º Encontro do Circulo de Sementes Dente de Leão Moita Moita Portugal
	10/10/2015 All Day	8 Encontro do Círculo de Sementes do Barlavento Algarvio Barão de São João. Barão de São João Portugal
	08/10/2015 - 15/10/2015 All Day	Visita a pequenos agricultores
	03/10/2015 All Day	Circulo de Sementes da Região de Mora
	02/10/2015 - 16/10/2015 All Day	Action for Living Seeds
	18/07/2015 All Day	1º Encontro do Circulo de Sementes Dente de Leão Mata da Machada Barreiro Portugal
	06/06/2015 - 01/09/2015 All Day	SeedFunding
	16/05/2015 - 17/05/2015 All Day	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de Sementes e 1º Encontro do Circulo de Sementes Bela Luz Viana do Alentejo Viana do Alentejo Portugal
	23/02/2015 9:30 am - 12:30 pm	Oficina de Recolha e Conservação de Sementes na Escola Superior Agrária de Beja
	14/02/2015 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm	Encontro de Fevereiro do Circulo de Sementes da Região de Mora Quinta de São José Mora Portugal
	10/01/2015 6:00 pm - 9:45 pm	1º Encontro de 2015 do Circulo de Sementes da Região de Mora está a chegar Mora Mora Portugal
	22/11/2014 9:30 am - 5:15 pm	6º Encontro do Círculo de Sementes do Barlavento Algarvio Monte do Pisco Barão de São Miguel Portugal
	31/10/2014 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm	Oficina de Bolinhas de Sementes / Seed Balls Workshop Lisboa – escola dos corucheus Lisboa Portugal
	26/10/2014 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm	5º Encontro das Sementes Locais no CAMPO Campo, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal Campo Portugal
	11/10/2014 3:15 pm - 6:15 pm	Oficina de Recolha, Selecção, Colheita e Conservação de Sementes Quinta de São José Mora Portugal
	04/10/2014 10:00 am - 6:00 pm	Workshop Hortas Sustentáveis em pequenos espaços Carnide CARNIDE Portugal