EDIBLE HERITAGE LAB Lucy Bell

EDIBLE HERITAGE LAB by Lucy Bell, an exhibit at the EDIBLE exhibition at SCIENCE GALLERY, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 2012

Agricultural biodiversity can contribute to a robust and secure food system, and increases the colors, shapes, textures and flavours available to eaters. The FAO states that 'since the 1900s, some 75 percent of [agricultural] plant genetic diversity has been lost.'1 In Ireland, preserving the genetic diversity contained in heritage varietals has been championed by organisations such as Irish Seedsavers, who to date, have collected over 140 native apple trees, 50 potato tubers and 600 plant seeds.

This exhibit is a living laboratory that allows for up-close interactions with 12 heritage potato varieties, including the infamous 'lumper', blamed for causing the Irish famine, and the resilient 'bute' that survived the blight. These potatoes are joined by a range of edible greens, edible herbs and wild plants that raise questions about value and responsibility when it comes to preserving and promoting genetic diversity in our food systems.

For Food's Sake...GROW goes to Science Gallery

Late post about the night in the Science Gallery. Myself, Mick Kelly from GIY Ireland and Ollie Moore from Cloughjordan. We were there as speakers about the future of food in Ireland.

The room was packed with over 100 people there. All agreed that growing your own would be a larger part of our lives. It should not be that difficult to get Ireland growing. A swift cultural change. Just because you grow your own does not mean that you are poor but that you like to taste healthy vegetables!

Check out, http://forfoodssakeireland.blogspot.com

GROW - growing for 'EDIBLE' at the SCIENCE GALLERY!!

GROW have recently been asked to get involved in the next exhibition at the Science Gallery in Dublin. The next exhibitions' theme is 'EDIBLE', so it deals with contemporary concerns around food, eating, heath, biodiversity, local food, slow food etc. We've been asked and have been working on for the past  month a project with heritage potatoes and seeds, specifically working with Irish Seedsavers, who have kindly sent us up several heritage potato varieties and seeds to grow and work with. The potatoes are currently chitting in my office! And we are trying to trick the seedlings into thinking its spring already in a heated propagator in Mairtin's polytunnel in Newbridge! These heritage seeds and potatoes, look to raise people's awareness around preserving the diverse heritage of our native seeds, potato tubers and apple trees. The exhibition is opening on February 10th and should be well worth checking out!

www.sciencegallery.com
www.irishseedsavers.ie