Cumberland Seed Commons track

November 30 - December 1, 2023

The Cumberland Seed Commons working group is pleased to host two days of dialogue, knowledge sharing, and organizational planning around the ongoing work of preserving, growing and sharing heirloom and native seeds at the 2023 TN Local Food Summit.

About the Cumberland Seed Commons

The Cumberland Seed Commons is a recently formed community-based initiative which consists of individuals and organizations from diverse organizations in the Kentucky, and Tennessee region who understand the importance of having regionally adapted seeds and a network to support seed work. Our name is inspired by the Cumberland River (known as Wasioto by Native Americans) watershed which traverses both states and connects us in a web of interdependence, mutual care and responsibility for our bioregional ecosystem and communities. Collectively, we understand the foundational importance that seeds have to all life and commit ourselves to the preservation, growing and sharing of a great diversity of heirloom and native seeds. Our view is that seeds are the foundation of creating community resilience as we are challenged by climate change. 

Everyone, regardless of their state residency is welcome to participate in the further work of developing the conceptual framework and infrastructure of the Seed Commons which has national significance.

Presenters

  • Christina Justice

    Cherokee Nation

  • Feather Smith

    Cherokee Nation

  • Chris Smith

    Utopian Seed Project

  • Amyrose Foll

    Virginia Free Farm (joining virtually)

  • Susana Lein

    Salamander Springs Farm

  • Megan Allen

    Care of the Earth Community Farm

  • Jim Embry

    Sustainable Communities Network

  • Eleanor Lopez

    Native American Indian Association of TN

CUMBERLAND SEED COMMONS track Schedule OF EVENTS

Thursday, November 30, 2023, 3:00 PM -9:00 PM

Comfort Suites, 904 Murfreesboro Rd. Lebanon, TN 37090, Banquet Room

2:00 PM -3:00 PM – Registration

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM  Organizing Our Cumberland Seed Commons

Guided discussion will include review of mission, working group reports, assessment of structure, legal entity, committees, membership categories. 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM – Dinner 

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM – Discussion & Film Screening

Discussion on further organizational development of Cumberland Seed Commons with a focus on committee assignments and future visioning. Conclusion with film showing of Seed Mother Comes Home.

Friday, December 1, 2023, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, 408 S Maple St, Lebanon, TN 37087 (9:00am-6:30pm)

Cumberland University June & Bill Heydel Fine Arts Center, 1 Cumberland Dr, Lebanon, TN 37087 (7:00pm-9:00pm)

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM –Seeds for Community Resilience

This is Day 2 of the Cumberland Seed Commons Track which will include these topics: conceptual framework for a seed commons, guidance of Indigenous culture, historical examples of seed commons, current USDA seed initiatives, TVA seed projects,  and resources.

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, Classroom A

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM – Seeds for Community Resilience Continued

This is Day 2 of the Cumberland Seed Commons Track which will include these topics: conceptual framework for a seed commons, guidance of Indigenous culture, historical examples of seed commons, current USDA seed initiatives, TVA seed projects,  and resources.

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, Classroom A

12:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Lunch & Keynote Address

Keynote address by Christina Justice, Secretary of Natural Resources, Cherokee Nation on Cherokee People and Seed Relationship

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, Banquet Room

2:00 PM - 3:15 PM - Seed Saving, Storing & Cleaning

This is Day 2 of the Cumberland Seed Commons Track which will include these topics: theory and practice of seed keepers, TVA seed projects, seed saving techniques and tools, resources for seed farmers and more.

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, Classroom A

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM - Future of the Cumberland Seed Commons Initiative

This is Day 2 of the Cumberland Seed Commons Track which will include these topics: how to continue the work to develop the Cumberland River Seed Commons, relationships with TVA, USDA, Tribal nations, seed hubs, concept document, committee formation.

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, Classroom A

5:30 PM - 6:45 PM - Banquet Dinner

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Keynote Panel: Building A Seed Commons through An Indigenous People’s Lens

As we move closer to developing a food sovereignty, and we become the caretakers of the seeds that provide us with food to nourish our physical bodies, let us "go back and fetch" the seed saving wisdom of the original inhabitants of Turtle Island.  The "seed commons" of today can build on the millennia of passed down knowledge and wisdom of caring for and adapting seeds to our bioregion.

Cumberland University, June & Bill Heydel Fine Arts Center