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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Arthur I. Cyr: The legacy of Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Arthur I. Cyr: The legacy of Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew The rest of the story Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall ... Ticket availability ... UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit ... New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall ... Ticket availability ... UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit ... SPRING SEED CIRCUS Ashlanders share seeds Trying to propagate sustainable local sources Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 6:44 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 7:11 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 6:44 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 7:11 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   » Social News The big Spring Seed Circus Sunday at the Ashland Historic Armory opened the door, not just for song, dance, aerial twirling and community connection, but for the increasingly valuable ritual of swapping organic, genetically pure heritage seeds, so you can plant and dine on real food for you and your family and neighbors.  That’s the message of scores of gardeners and seed preservers, such as Catie Faryl, an organizer of the Chamber of Commons, Talent, who said 75 percent of the world’s seeds today are the patented “trans-species” property of agribusiness corporations — therefore underlining the importance of individuals preserving and trading heritage seed. Doing a land-office business at the Seed Circus was Don Tipping, owner of Seven Seeds Farm and Siskiyou Seeds of Williams. Tipping gave away fat seed catalogs and was selling, at $3 a packet, scores of organic veggie seeds — greens, peas, mesclun salad mix, you name it — and noting he has four employees in the seed factory and five on the farm and moves over 40,000 such packets a year. Many are available at Ashland’s Shop'n Kart and Ashland Food Cooperative. The Circus staged a big seed trade-giveaway for three hours, but also offered vendors space to ply their goods in retail fashion. Tipping, a bit of a Luther Burbank of the Coast Range, said he offers many varieties of greens the chance to inbreed and bring forth self-hybridized seeds that are best adapted to the changing Southern Oregon climate.  “This is the best and most salient response to climate change,” says Tipping. “For instance, I took seven varieties of kale and let them all cross-pollinate. I saved the seed of the ones with the best leaf color, taste and nutrition. Over time, they developed reliably without herbicides, pesticides and excess fertilizers. They’re resilient, and a more stable, delicious and nutritious food supply.”  Tipping sees himself, not just as a defender of the best seeds, but as a re-educator of this mostly “agriculturally illiterate” generation, which came about beause of industrialized agriculture and because of the “dispacement of people from the land.”  Buying many packets of his seeds, Timothy March of Talent said simply, “He’s the man. He’s got the seeds I’ve heard great stuff about. I buy them to help support the local community. I very much can taste the difference when I harvest and eat it.”  Paige Magia, organizer of the event and member of Families for Food Freedom, said the Seed Circus aims to support the local food network, so as to get produce into backyards in such volume that everyone has self-sustainability in the event of natural or manmade disasters or personal-family disability.  “Last year in the Rogue Valley, only 3 percent of our food was locally grown and now, only a year later, it’s more than twice that,” said Magia.  Another event organizer and the director of Families for Food Freedom, Katie Oppenheimer, says its purpose is to bring focus on spring equinox on helping home gardeners with planting, sharing seed and bringing people together sustainably “with appreciation for the beauty and balance of this valley.” She adds, “The seeds are getting corrupted by corporate interests and losing their viability.” The patenting of seed genes, said Faryl, has resulted in the closing of many “seed libraries” and the “negating of people’s rights to grow their own food. It’s healthier to grow your own food with heritage seeds. You know what you’re putting in your body and it helps bees and other pollinators to survive.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 6:44 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 7:11 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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