The Seed Bank Project

The Seed bank Project

Illustrated Instructions on Burying The
Seed Banks

What is a Seed bank?

A seed bank is a storage container (often made of clay) that is specially designed to create a controlled, interior climate so as to maximize the seed's potential viability. Although every seed's ability to germinate is different depending on it's DNA, one can encourage the maximum amount of time that a seed can genetically stay viable by storing the seed within a dark, dry and cool place. Through this consideration, we begin to take responsibility for the future of our food production, and spark a dialogue of human's stewardship towards the earth and future generations of all species while learning about our local ecology. See how the Seed Banks have been designed to maximize Seed viability below.

Goals of The Seed Bank Project

Although it is hard to have expectations with a project that could potentially exist beyond our generation, the planting of the seed banks are an important aspect of the project and the act is meant to highlight the importance of local ecology in the midst of an increasingly global outlook.
Each bank is meant to ignite a dialogue about the intimacy of place, our emotional connection to it, and evoke a curiosity of the interconnectedness between us, and the ecology of the place we call home, or places we inhabit through a common burial ritual that transcends most cultures.
The banks also exist as an exploration of time, particularly how innovations in technology have begun to condense our sense of time, specifically in relation to the construction of the 24-hour day and how the harnessing and storing of power has shifted our relationship with labor, materials and the manipulation of natural resources to perpetuate these innovations. Through ritual, families who plant the banks together will begin a multi-generational dialogue pertaining to the importance of ecological balance through an acknowledgement of future changes we will see within the environment and our species ability to adapt to them in a more sustainable, and intentional manner.

EXPLORE:
Links and Resources for Seed Saving, Storage and understanding your local Ecology

Websites:
plants.usda.gov
www.nativeseednetwork.org
seedsave.org
www.seedsavers.org
urbanfarm.org
seedalliance.org
http://www.southernexposure.com
http://sierraseeds.org
https://www.bountifulgardens.org
http://gis.nacse.org/lichenair/index.php?page=sensitivity
www.weather.gov/wrn/force
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/databases.shtml
www.fs.fed.us/research/invasive-species/
www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/index.shtml
www.fs.fed.us/learn/trees
Interview with Diane Ott Whealey
http://www.rnr.lsu.edu/plantid/default.htm
Videos/Documentaries:
http://www.seedsoftimemovie.com
Intro To Heredity by The Kana Academy
Savior Seeds and India's Water Crisis from Vice on HBO

Books:
Basic Seed Saving By Bill Mcdorman
The Nature of Life & Humanity- Joseph Stadtmiller
The background of Ecology-Concept & Theory- Robert P. McIntosh

Articles:
Crop Trust Resources
Food Systems Summit 2014 at University of Vermont
Journal Of Ecology -BES

Seed Bank Design:
A language that could outlive our own, A design that embodies the voices of ecological stewardship...
How the Seed banks' construction encapsulates ancient knowledge and contemporary technology into a completely autonomous vessel

When designing the banks, I decided to look to ecological design methods that created a symbiotic connection to its’ surroundings, and maintained its autonomy from human maintenance. Each bank is designed to prolong the viability of the seeds through the careful consideration of using the thermal mass of the earth (much like the architectural Earthship movement), trapping a layer of air between two porcelain walls to maintain a constant temperature below the permafrost ground level, and each bank is sealed with beeswax to maintain a constant air tight, water tight environment. Although the environment to promote the viability of the seeds has been considered in the design of the banks, each seed has its own unique life span that genetically determines its viability, and thus not all seeds will remain viable. The hope is that if ever found beyond its span of viability, the seed’s DNA can still provide cultural significance about the ecology of the place in which it was found.

See where Banks have already been planted to record our local ecologies:

Here is a map of all the seed banks that have been sent out and buried.
Please note that marker locations are approximate, and the map is updated weekly.
All information is posted as given to me by the wonderful people who have participated in the project.
If you do not see your bank yet, or all the information is not yet visible don't worry! The map will be updated soon!
Note: Many of the banks have been sent out, but not buried yet due to weather restrictions. Their information will be recorded as soon as they are buried.

Guidelines for Planting The Seed Banks

Step 1: Choosing your Seeds and the location, and filling the Seed bank

When considering which seeds to fill your bank with, please consider these three guidelines:

1. Native seeds are an excellent indicator of the ecology of the place in which you are considering. Try not to use seeds from noxious weeds, purely ornamental or foreign seeds, seeds from large corporations that could be genetically modified, or seeds from plants that are contributing to an imbalance within that ecology. If you choose to harvest seeds from the wild, be sure you accurately classify the plant. You can access the Flora of North America (fna.org) or plants.usda.gov for the U.S. to help you classify the plant, and determine when the best time to harvest the seeds will be. Sometimes seeds are only ready for harvest for a few days, so be sure you research ahead of time. Also, be sure that it is legal to harvest seeds in your area (although we are not taking seeds from the location, it is best to stick with the law), check with your local land management office before you go. National Parks generally don't allow seed collection and some state parks won't either, so be sure to check! You will be looking for dried flowers that often can be carefully shaken to reveal the seeds. Be sure that the seeds are dry. You may need to dry berries over a period of a few days if they weren't dried on the branch/vine.
2. Consider using plants that provide sustenance or habitat to living creatures within that ecology, such as berries or seed pods of trees/grasses that provide a safe-haven for birds or animals beyond just human consumption. Often times, these seeds will also benefit humans, but focusing on the ecological system as a whole is the goal.
3. Agricultural seeds can be an interesting indicator of human’s ability to co-exist and thrive within their environment. Please consider seeds that promote a sustainable, and ecologically sound farming practice. Perhaps some research on indigenous farming practices could direct you to some interesting heirloom plant varieties, or seeds that have been raised in your area for generations, thus naturally adapting their DNA to adjust to the climate in which you, and they exist.

Step 3: Determining the right Depth of the hole

Depending on which climate you are in, you will have to research the permafrost level of your area to determine the depth of your hole.
Check for permafrost here: https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/frozenground/whereis_fg.html
Generally, it will be the same depth at which water pipes are buried into the ground.
You will want to bury the bank at least 6" below the permafrost level.
Once you have determined the depth of your whole, begin digging! Place the bank in the bottom of the whole and fill with dirt, being careful not to cover up the indicator rock, which should sit on the surface after you are all done. Putting it to one side of the hole while you fill can ensure that it stays on the surface.
When all the dirt is replaced back into the whole, tamp down the earth with your body weight or the shovel. Scatter leaves/debris gently over the area, being careful to leave the indicator rock in sight.

Step 2: Filling & Sealing The Seed Bank

Harvest enough seeds that the smaller, inner chamber of your bank is full but not crammed. Allow the seeds some space to move around a bit. Make sure that you don't harvest all the seeds, leave enough on the plant to ensure survival for the following spring.
Proper harvesting techniques and plant identification information can be found in the links above!
Once you have filled your bank with seeds, use a lighter to heat up the bees wax around the top of the screw top to ensure an airtight/water tight seal. Screw the topper in while the wax is still soft and then gently run a flame around the outside of where the topper and the lip of the bank meet to ensure the wax melts to create a good seal. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before you bury your bank (this is a great time to start digging your hole!)

Step 4: Documentation and Researching your chosen Seeds

stand on top of the hole you just dug and use the compass app on your phone, or a GPS device to get the GPS coordinates of the bank. (I have downloaded the compass app on my iphone and then screen shot the coordinates to record later. You may have to turn roaming on for a minute to get service in some locations).
Be sure to get photo documentation of the seeds, the plant in which you harvested them from, and then a few shots of the surrounding area (taking a panoramic shot while standing on the hole is a great idea!)
Also, video footage of harvesting seeds, digging the whole and choosing the plant would be greatly appreciated!
When you get home, fill out the included sheet of information to send back to me at:
rachaelmarnejones@gmail.com
A link to the document can be found here:
Seed Bank Instruction Sheet

The Future of the Seed Banks

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * COMING SOON! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The Problem of sustainability is simple enough, it requires that the fertility cycle- birth, growth, death and decay, must turn continuously in place- that the law of return is kept, and nothing is is wasted. For this to happen in the stewardship of humans, there must be a cultural cycle in harmony with the fertility cycle, also turning continuously in place.
The cultural cycle is an unending conversation: old people and young people assuring the survival of local memory, which as, long as it remains local, has the greatest practical urgency and value.
This is what is meant in all that can be meant by sustainability.
The fertility cycle turns by the laws of nature, the cultural cycle turns on affection."