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New Year Update and News From Our
Founder and CEO Sherry Manning
Happy 2024 Global Seed Savers Community! This first month of the year always seems to fly by and here we are nearly in February. The GSS/P Team has already been quite busy in January:
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Preparing our annual work plans and onboarding our two new Philippine team members Ding and Sweetie;
- Gearing up for an exciting year of growing our Seed Saver Communities;
- Launching our Participatory Seed Governance model; and,
- Expanding our Seed Library Networks throughout the Philippines.
I have been in deep reflection about our growth in the last nine years, when I decided to run what was then, Friends of ENCA Farm, full time. I could not be more proud of everyone that has played a role in helping shape, guide, and lead our work forward since 2015. Our work began with one family farm and a shared vision of preserving local knowledge, promoting organic farming, and ensuring access to open-pollinated seeds in one community. Over the last nine years, the organization has steadily grown into a global movement, and these foundational shared values are what continue to guide our work.
The GSS/P Team is the strongest and most focused we have ever been. This is evident in our phenomenal local leadership, committed community partners, and an ever growing demand for restoring food and seed sovereignty. Each of these milestones are something to celebrate! So, what does this mean for me right now? The strength of GSS/P is also a catalyst for me to share that I am taking a sabbatical from February-May this year. I will be stepping away during this time for some much needed rest that includes: personal travels and new adventures, time with family and loved ones, and incorporating some new daily reflective practices into my life.
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