Over the last century, 75% of crop diversity has disappeared as industrial agriculture has replaced local varieties with standardized seeds owned by a few global companies. Also in South Tyrol, many local seeds are quietly vanishing—from gardens, farms, and collective memory. These heirloom seeds have been selected, saved, and shared over generations. They carry stories of land and people, adapt to local climates, and strengthen resilient food systems.
As living commons, seeds belong not to corporations but to the communities that care for them. Seeding Stories explores how preservation, storytelling, and shared practices can support local seed keepers and raise public awareness. How much of our future depends on the seeds we choose to protect, grow, and share today?
Beginning with a single bean seed falling to the ground and growing into a plant, the video reflects on the cultural and biological importance of sharing heirloom seeds. It weaves together stories of care with the global challenges threatening seed diversity today, inviting viewers to rethink their relationship with seeds and food.
The workshop held in January 2026 brought together local seed keepersto share seeds, stories, and connections. In response to the fragmented landscape of seed-saving initiatives in South Tyrol, the workshop provided an opportunity for participants (mostly members of these initiatives) to reconnect, collaborate, and learn from each other. Through collective storytelling (Part 1), mapping and open dialogue (Part 2), participants explored their resources, current challenges to seed diversity, and imagined ways to strengthen local networks and everyday seed practices.
Part 1: Seed Stories
The workshop began with participants writing down their personal seed stories, including experiences, memories, and the cultural or emotional significance of the seeds they care for. Sharing these stories with one another allowed the group to connect over common practices, values, and knowledge, creating a sense of shared history and collective responsibility for local seed diversity.
Part 2: Context Mapping
Context mapping is a participatory research method used to explore systems, relationships, and interactions within a specific context. In the workshop, it allowed participants to visually map out the network of seed-related practices, uncovering connections between people, institutions, resources, and challenges, and identifying opportunities for collaboration or support. Participants were also asked to draw lines between already existing connections and also lines for potential connections.
After mapping with the help of the icons, participants were given input cards representing different categories such as resources, challenges, and hopes. Using these cards, they could place and group elements on the map, highlighting what supports seed diversity, where difficulties arise, and what future aspirations exist for the local seed network.
Reflection round
The workshop concluded with an open discussion in which the moderator used a reflection poster to collect and summarize the mentioned topics. This visual summary captured insights, key learnings, and shared ideas for action, providing a tangible representation of the group’s collective knowledge, priorities, and hopes for strengthening seed practices in South Tyrol.
In the near future, the project will focus on translating the findings into ongoing practices and formats that can be sustained beyond the initial research phase. Based on the workshop, future actions could include developing a publicly accessible seed map that documents local varieties and seed guardians across South Tyrol, broadening the network through the involvement of more diverse stakeholders, deciding on and developing a design strategy to also share the knowledge with non-gardeners.
