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Abundant Life Seed
Foundation' Demise
Fire Disaster Information
Fire Damage Update – August 14,
2003:
On Monday August 4th a fire
destroyed Abundant Life Seed Foundation’s offices. Our catalog
seed inventory, World Seed Fund seed inventory, computers and
other administrative systems were lost. We have some offsite
backup of seed archives and electronic data. Seeds were also
salvaged from the fire – some stored in file cabinets inside tins
– and we will be examining their viability. Nearly 200 varieties
are in production with our Seed Growers Network. These varieties
will form the core of the 2004 catalog. Over the coming weeks we
will assess the total damages to our operations and keep you
updated on this web site.
From their December 22, 2003 Web
Site:
Our seed catalog operations were
destroyed by a fire. We are not currently selling seeds or
distributing catalogs, nor will we offer seed sales in 2004.
World Seed Fund and other programs will continue. Please read the FIRE UPDATE for more info. Also, please consider making a DONATION to rebuilding our nonprofit programs.
A high priority is to rebuild the
infrastructure of the WORLD SEED FUND, whose mission is to
charitably distribute quality open-pollinated seeds and seed
saving knowledge to those who need them most. WSF recipients have
few, if any, sources for meeting their seed needs. Abundant Life
seed produced in 2003 will be purchased from our Seed Growers
Network and distributed through the WSF, with distribution
beginning as early as January of 2004. One half of the fire
donations will go towards the reconstruction and betterment of
this program.
The Demise:
Abundant Life Seed Foundation's fire
not only destroyed their offices and seed packaging facilities,
but also most of their seed inventory and much of their gene bank.
The timing of the loss prevented the ability to print the 2004
seed catalog. With the season lost, the board of directors had
time to reflect on past accomplishments and future goals. They
concluded that the foundation's top priority should be the future
work of the Organic Seed Alliance and the World Seed Fund.
They
decided to relinquish the seed catalog business, and "let others
carry on the work of offering
seeds to their loyal customer base." The Territorial Seed
Company took over the seed sales operations of the ALSF as a
for-profit "sister company" in the
2005 season. No longer a non-profit organization, they are
doing business as Abundant Life Seeds.
Sources:
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"Fire
Hits Rare-Seed Collection," The Capital Press, August 8, 2003
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