Regenerative Valuation of Seeds, proposals and projects.
There are a few characteristics of Seeds that first caught my attention as a Regenerative Steward. One of them being Seeds has inherent value. Not only does this mimic Nature, it is one of SEEDS living principles by which our work becomes that of efficient evolution towards a greening and blossoming future where actual gardens become the wealth of our planet. Seeds will have served it’s function. No time like the present to begin the exploration of how to insure this inherent value of Seeds becomes a primary vehicle of growth.
@Aryabhatta brought my contemplations back to this positing by his concerns regarding the rising cost of Seeds being a deterrent to distribution within fiat poor communities, already challenged by access to the internet and wallet. If SEEDS can’t help communities impacted by desertification, warfare and dislocation, then it isn’t doing the work of regeneration.
Ponder this: If Seeds has inherent value, then establishing fixed value (at any given time) for a Seed shifts this seeds’ given-value to that of ‘bean-counting.’ The sole emphasis becomes ‘how many beans’ (and by familiar effect, ‘who many beans’) rather than what is inherent within that Bean which includes the following considerations: Genetic selection over time by Stewards through creative hybridization, the RNA signaling the Bean has receive throughout its development within the mother plant, the season, time and place of it’s growth, the diversity it represents, flavor gained through orchestration and dance of mineral and microbial. The narrative is endlessly complex. A deterrent to the task at hand. Not at all! (haha)
A seed of a proposal:
Seeds are assigned a relative and shifting value according the the regenerative practice they support.
To follow are two offerings: First and true to my word to @Aryabhatta, I have an idea. So the example scenario I offer is both an illustration of a vehicle by which this inherent value of Seeds can be put to the test, at least in illustration by comparing it to an existing highly successful project with inherent similarities.
Second, I will share an effective and practiced holistic certification metric measuring Regeneration growing systems called DemPure. Despite the complexity of regenerative systems there are commonalities by which we course correct assigned value and distribution of Seeds in a way which excites us.
First offering:
In the early 90’s, I was part of a committee by which the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market established the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
WIC Farmers Market Nutritional Program
This is an extremely successful and large government supported program. What makes it an interesting case study is that WIC is a coupon which carries intrinsic value. By establishing this value within the ecosystem of Farmers’ Markets, the intrinsic value becomes amplified to support regenerative systems (local markets).
WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children and is a coupon which can be traded for a certain number and type of food that has an associated inherent value; that is associated with ‘basic nutrition’. I used WIC as a young, single mother and was downhearted that the only Milk, Eggs, Cheese and Cereal allowed were of a certain generic brand and cost and definitely not organic. Once these coupons were accepted by our local farmers’ markets, suddenly a whole new customer base was established strengthening relationship with farmers and local food in satisfaction of true nutritional need.
A market management role was expanded by which these coupons were gathered and exchanged for fiat currency and the coupons redeemed according to protocol.
What an overlay of Seeds looks like in a similar scenario:
Seeds is distributed equally to those participating in ‘the program’ (a food desert anywhere USA for example).
Seeds can be spent on food without limitations. (a soda at the gas station, a carton of runny eggs).
If Seeds is spent at the gas station it has little relative value (1/2x).
If Seeds is spent at the local farmers’ market, the value is increased (2x).
If Seeds is spent within the market system on a regenerative farm (designated according to various certifications like DemPure or organic), the value increases. (3x) etc.
This relative valuation supports both an equal distribution and the placing of agency and responsive discrimination back to the individual, allowing for discovery of regenerative systems naturally and locally (maybe there are local certifications at work within the community of markets, a ‘better than free’ system of regenerative flow).
There are many grants being offered through the WIC program. Perhaps there is a way to garner grant fiat money to establish a pilot program using Seeds along side WIC…
Second offering:
DemPure Certification for Regenerative Cannabis Growers:
http://dempurefarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DEMPureCertificate.pdf
Visioned and executed by Regenerative Farm, Dragon Fly Earth Medicine: Dragonfly Earth Medicine | Pure Farms
This certification goes beyond recommending specifics towards establishing certain protocols necessary in regenerative systems, namely: Utilizing closed loop systems (6 in the case of this certification), stacked functions, cover crops, water harvesting, myco-remediation practices, diversity in crops, soil food web education, fair price of products, etc. The metrics can be simple while the application rich and complex.
What are the regenerative matrices we can use to assign value to the Seeds we distribute. Perhaps there is value we can assign looking to the following illustration:
From seed to fruiting, a plant goes through various cycles which in Natural Farming mimic the lifecycle of a female human, from infancy to death. The health of the plant determines the quality, viability and strength of successional generations. The soil is built in part by the return of at least 40% of the entire plant material. So allowing for this return to the system and allowance for a smaller though enhanced harvest. And then, what of the harvest. Harvest becomes something other than consumption. It is trade, local tokens, hybridization according to favor and taste, local and specific. How in an economy is the SOIL accounted for? It’s water holding capacity, increased fertility, mineral content and conductivity, it’s inherent diversity and successional resilience. All these metrics to be found
inherent
inside
each
Seed.
A signaling capacity to future generations…far from bean counting.
offered in our RE meeting:
Regen Index Markers
New avenues of defining value and proposing metrics for Proposals and SEEDS economy and token. (introducing the concept of a variable value).
Regenerative Valuation through Holistic Assessment of Pilot Solution Space as Fertile Soil for Network Learning for Eco-systemic Transformation (Justin Joseph)
Exploring the inherent value of Seeds within its distribution potential as a way to support and amplify regenerative practices.
Facilitator (Eagle): Tina Trout (LaLa Gardens)
What say Us? @Bart @Storytellers @Aryabhatta @Melanie @RachelR @thaynara @mbh66 @Rieki @IndraWouivre @r_explorers_core
I’ll be waiting for the recording to learn more and understand how I can contribute best. I put a note in the google doc that I am interested in weaving in the multiple capitals in one way or another, but I would like to see your introduction first. 
Thank you for this beautiful gift 
