Why it is so important to save seed, 2020 trends and beyond, Jennifer McConnell, Irish Seed Savers

Fascinating conversation with Jennifer McConnell, general manager of Irish Seed Savers. We cover Irish seeds, apple trees, Stalingrad, biodiversity, Khazakstan, Syrian courgettes, and much more.

Listen and learn more about how Irish Seed Savers are helping people all over Ireland and beyond to preserve genetic diversity, bio diversity and to also reduce ‘seed miles’.

Irish Seed trends, 2020 and beyond with Jennifer McConnell, Irish Seed Savers

Learn more about their work here

The European Commission has launched a study on the legislation on plant reproductive material (PRM) The survey below survey, is directed to amateur and hobby gardeners Clickhttps://t.co/namYlHokQh to take this short survey will help infom future legislation on plants and seeds. pic.twitter.com/f7nEqc16nB

— Irish Seed Savers (@IrishSeedSavers) November 5, 2020

and follow them on Twitter hereMore About Irish Seed Savers 

Irish Seed Savers Association CLG has been in operation since 1991. Originating from an ambitious effort to create a central store of food crop seeds and fruit trees where none had previously existed, Their work to date has been to research and protect rare, heritage and naturalised open pollinated food crop seeds and fruit trees on their 20 acre farm in County Clare.

Curating the country’s public seed bank of 600 varieties of heritage seed and the country’s 180 varieties of heritage apple trees, their work has expanded over the years to include an education and outreach remit to not only connect more people to the importance of conservation of plant genetic resources, but also to ensure the protection of these collections by encouraging more people to grow open pollinated seeds for their food supply.

The main aim for these collections are preservation (find), conservation (keep alive through growing), and utilisation (sharing) for the continuation of these heritage food sources for now and future generations. Sign up to become a supporter of this work by going to www.irishseedsavers.ie. 

More about Jennifer McConnell

Jennifer has been with Irish Seed Savers Association as General Manager since February 2017.

Initially coming on board for a 2-year term, she was brought in to strengthen the organisation’s financial and operational stability after the organisation experienced a turbulent number of years. Jennifer’s remit as General Manager has also been to develop the organisation’s strategic sustainability, increasing relevance in protection of our seed and tree collections as well as contributing to their partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Irish Environmental Network, and various European Seed Projects.

A supporter of Irish Seed Savers for a number of years, prior to joining Irish Seed Savers, Jennifer held senior management roles in development organisations in Papua New Guinea, and HR roles in Jamaica and Haiti. Her previous roles in Ireland were in entrepreneurial development, event management, and public relations.

Jennifer was previously voluntary Board Director for Healthy Food for All which was a policy group focusing on addressing food poverty in Ireland and is currently on the Board of Directors for the European seed network, European Co-ordination Let’s Liberate Diversity.

Jennifer’s academic background is in Anthropology, Business, Geography and Development. She also has a QQI Level 5 certificate in Organic Horticulture, a Competent Communicator certificate from Toastmasters International and was recently awarded a certificate in Transformative Leadership from Maynooth University.

Become a supporter of Irish Seed Savers

As a supporter you will receive these yearly benefits:
7 FREE packs of organic seed
10% off apple trees
10% off workshops
2 big newsletters, summer and winter
Free admission all year round
We grow, conserve, & distribute Irish organic vegetable seeds, grains and fruit trees. Irish Seed Savers Association is a registered charity. See here to join.

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