Hi, Ed Vallejo here.  I haven't been posting here at Freedom's Phoenix as much as I used to.  There has been a growing shift in my activism.  That shift has been less about getting the word out and being in the streets and more about preparing for the possible storm we see brewing in the distance.

Securing the needs of my Family.

Assisting close friends and associates to do the same.

Stocking up what is most essential for the continued existence of civilization.

It is in light of this last item I share with you the following opportunity:

The Great American Seed Up
An incredible Hands On Seed Saving Experience

Saturday, May 16, 2015
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Held at Uptown Farmers Market/ North Phoenix Baptist Church 5757 N Central, 85012
$20 Admission – 100% of your ticket is applied to the cost of your seeds.

Sign up early to reserve your place.  This will sell out.
All seeds non-hybrid, non-gmo.

Great American Seed-Up To Take Place in Phoenix, Arizona

Local seed saving festival will center on seed diversity and education

Farmers and gardeners across the Southwest will soon have a unique opportunity to collect, share, and learn about local seeds. On Saturday, May 16th, the first-annual Great American Seed-Up will take place in Phoenix, Arizona at North Phoenix Baptist Church.

Imagine walking into a room filled with 47 varieties of seeds ready to literally be scooped up and taken home for planting or saving. This is exactly what the Great American Seed-Up is all about. "The idea is to give valley residents and opportunity to learn about seed saving, and then to harvest as many pounds or ounces of seed to take home," says Greg Peterson, Urban Farm Founder and local seed saver. We are partnering with the Uptown Phoenix Farmers Market and holding the event at North Phoenix Baptist Church at 5757 N Central Ave, Phx 85012.

The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and feature a seed bazaar with bulk quantities of popular vegetable seed varieties available for purchase at bulk discounts. Attendees are encouraged to buy and share the seeds with their neighborhood and community groups to spur local gardening and seed saving efforts.

"We're trying to get seeds in the hands of the people," says Seed-Up co-organizer Bill McDorman of Seedsave.org. "The more seed diversity we have growing in our neighborhood gardens and backyard plots, the more resilient we'll be as a community.  These seeds are the best varieties we can find in bulk to help you start your seed saving adventure."

Also featured at the Seed-Up will be presentations and workshops with seed experts to spread knowledge about traditional and modern seed saving practices. Discussion topics will include: how to save and store seeds, planting and starting seeds, how to start a seed library, how to properly store your new seeds and how to grow a garden using your new seeds.  Full details and a line-up of speakers will be available as the event approaches.

Tickets are $20. 100% of the ticket price is applied to the purchase of your seeds.

The Great American Seed-Up is presented by Seedsave.org, The Urban Farm, the Micro Farm Project, and Grow PHX.