Janice Brant, one in a group of dedicated volunteers who make up Ratinenhayen:thos, acknowledged Henderson and the sisters for their work and their commitment to the seeds over time and to seeing “the value of keeping them and sharing them and passing them along to others.” Meghan Balogh/The Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network Vincent de Paul during a rematriation ceremony at the Sisters of Providence Motherhouse on Monday, April 22, 2019. And so that’s how we pass the heirloom seeds to the next generation.” Representatives from the Kingston Area Seed System Initiative (KASSI) and Ratinenhayen:thos accepted the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary from the Sisters of Providence of St. Those seeds are germinating in new soil, with KASSI and Ratinenhayen:thos. “That flower has gone to seed, and it’s dropping its seeds. “It’s all kind of come to fruition today, in this moment,” Henderson said, talking about how the plant that is the seed sanctuary has grown to maturity. Henderson shared drawings that she made years ago of the seed sanctuary as a seed itself - being planted by the Moucks, growing and being transplanted to the sisters, and now spreading. This is why this ministry has been so important to me.” Therefore, all living beings are important, and their happiness and freedom are also important. We cannot exist without others, and they, in turn, are affected by everything we do. We are each a cell in the vast body of life, distinct, yet intimately bound up with all living beings. “What drew me to this ministry was the knowledge that I am a seed,” Henderson said, wiping away tears. She is passing the baton on a project that has visibly been deeply personal to her. Henderson was emotional as she spoke to an assembled audience of individuals and groups involved in the transfer of responsibility. She is also as a founding member of KASSI. It is with pleasure that we pledge that we will pass these seeds on to these two organizations.”Ĭate Henderson has been at the forefront of seed saving initiatives in Kingston on two fronts - both as head gardener at Sisters of Providence and the lead on the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary for 11 years. “We have confidence that the seeds have found, once again, good homes in which they will be treasured for the future. “We are truly excited about this,” Shannon said. The ceremony gave members of each of the three groups the opportunity to speak about the giving and receiving of the precious seed collection. “Now it is time for the sisters to cease this ministry, to let the descendants of the original seeds to move again to responsible and caring organizations,” Sister Sandra Shannon said during a rematriation ceremony at the Sisters of Providence Motherhouse on Monday afternoon. The seed collection was donated by farmers Carol and Robert Mouck, who had worked for many years to establish a collection of heirloom seeds on their farm in Napanee. The Heirloom Seed Sanctuary began in 1999 at the Sisters of Providence property on Princess Street in Kingston. The seeds are being gifted to the Kingston Area Seed System Initiative (KASSI) and to Ratinenhayen:thos - which in the Mohawk language means, “They are farmers of seeds” - based on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory west of Napanee. The collection features nearly 300 varieties of heirloom seeds, some varieties of which date back to the 1500s. Vincent de Paul, to two regional organizations that have committed to ensuring the preservation of the seeds into the future. This story has been published here and in its original form with the permission of Meghan Balogh, Kingston Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network.Ī 20-year project to save and store heirloom seeds is beginning a new season with new caretakers.Īn emotional ceremony marked the passing of the Heirloom Seed Sanctuary, tended for the past two decades by the Sisters of Providence of St. The Sisters gifted the seeds to the Kingston Area Seed System Initiative and Ratinenhayen:thos during a rematriation ceremony on Monday, April 22, 2019. Vincent de Paul, and a handmade Wampum Belt representing the commitment of the three groups to preserve the seeds into the future. Kathy Rothermel, Cate Henderson, and Janice Brant hold the gifts of seeds from the Sisters of Providence of St.
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