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World Seed Fund 2008: Recipient Profile
Support of the Tanzanian Children’s Fund
World Seed Fund has been successful over the years in distributing thousands of packets of open-pollinated seeds each year. Originally founded in 1985 by Abundant Life Seed Foundation and managed by Organic Seed Alliance as of 2003, donations granted by the World Seed Fund serve a wide diversity of people, projects, and regions around the world. From Doctors of the World to Peace Corps projects, women’s cooperatives, refugee camps, orphanages, prison gardens, urban gardening projects, and educational farms and schools, countless people benefit from World Seed Fund activities.
In the past year the World Seed Fund program at the Organic Seed Alliance has been gently bubbling with several extraordinary seed donation projects. Over twenty-five of our donation ensembles - which include packets of seeds, planting advice and seed saving materials - went to projects in Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala, Senegal, Malawi, Tanzania, Panama, relief efforts in New Orleans, prisoners, homeless gardens and low-income farm education projects in various locales within the US.
A great project that truly stood out this past year was a seed donation to the Tanzanian Children’s Fund (TCF), a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding the children of Tanzania by working in partnership with registered non-profit organizations within that country. TCF is currently managing a government-owned orphanage school in Tanzania that launched a Farm Model project in January 2008. The project integrates the cultivation and preservation of farmland in neighboring territories, the use of natural farming methods, seed education, and farm-generated income returning to support the school’s operations.
 The orphanage is located a mile above sea level and is surrounded by the Oldeani Mountains, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and 10,000 acres of coffee plantations. The plantation owners allow local villagers to plant crops in between the rows of coffee, thereby benefiting both the local community and the health of the soil. Meanwhile, the elephants in the conservation area have been inviting themselves to feast on these crops, mostly corn and beans, and have even been known to chase children of the orphanage as they walk to school. Talk about a pest management problem!
 The orphanage contacted us in October of 2007 to request donations for seeds that they could plant to increase the diversity of the crops planted, boost the health of their poor soil, and possibly detour the elephants from eating all the crops. In addition, the planting of the seeds would serve as a farming model for local villagers and students, as well as providing food for men, women, and children of the village and income for the orphanage.
We were able to provide TCF with a bountiful donation of various seeds including cabbage, chard, cucumber, squash, carrot, lettuce, tomato, beans, cowpeas and a large variety of hot peppers to keep the elephants away. (Apparently, if you have elephant problems in your home garden you should try planting some hot chiles.) Moreover, we were able to secure food, ignite empowerment, implant joy and create hope for those who were in a desperate situation. We continue to pursue this as our goal and inspiration for the perpetual growth of the World Seed Fund for years to come.
“Thank you again for your thoughtful gift of seeds. It will provide promise for many people in need in our village in Tanzania.” Nano Chatfield, Chairman of TCF
By Erin Yeakel, OSA
While Erin Yeakel obtained a B.A. in Social Science she was turned on to agriculture by working on an inner city farm and traveling throughout Central and South America. She enjoys learning from and working with global cultures and natural landscapes. In her free time, Erin manages a community garden on her property in Quilcene, WA. Erin has been working with Organic Seed Alliance since September 2007 when she began a six month internship. She has stayed on to continue OSA's World Seed Fund Program.
Back to June 2008 Newsletter
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