The building blocks of our food system are seeds. They are the foundation of all life. Civilization, as we know it, developed because of this crucial element -- seed saving. Without seeds, nothing else would exist -- no gardens, fruits or vegetables, and our livestock feeds on grain seeds. Vandana Shiva, Indian author and environmentalist, says "the beauty of the seed is related to everything... every aspect of this beautiful planet, every aspect of the biosphere, every aspect of the skin of the earth."
Let's start with the question: What makes a seed grow? Some say this is a complex question, maybe even philosophical. Others say it's a mystery, sacredness, magic, sunshine-water-love. While others comment that it's "caring" put into human interaction, or that the seed grows because that's what it does and that all five elements must come together. The seed yearns to engage with a part of itself that has never been before. But Shiva says that "life makes a seed grow -- waiting -- the life that resides in the seed is waiting in the quiet potential to burst forth... because it wants to express more of itself."
Large powerful agribusiness corporations, like Monsanto, have shaken the food growing community with seed patent infringements. A GMO crop pollen can travel for miles and contaminate organic crops through cross-pollination, causing the farmers to forego planting certain crops for fear of contamination and undergoing expensive laboratory testing to ensure their produce was not polluted. With the strong arm of corporate control over the seed market, there has been enormous loss in varietal diversity of crops. Large corporations have squeezed out the small local farms, while these industries are armed with deep pockets and expensive lawyers that force farmers to fight their threatening seed patents.
Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds travels to seed schools and seed saving organizations that strive to teach, nurture, and bind together to carry on a unified mission to save these gems of the earth and not only educate the coming generations, but give students the sense of oneness with the Earth. A brief historical background outlines the invasion of chemicals in non-organic domestic food production. From nitrogen to glyphosate (Roundup) to Agent Orange, all of these have been used to eliminate weeds, fungi, and pests. One farmer said that up to 15 chemicals could be used on a crop over a year's time. Civil demonstrations in Hawaii fight against corporate GMO farmlands invading its natural beauty and crops, as well as the harmful physical effects of experimental field trials with chemical farming. Hawaii's non-tested Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) have caused physical problems with reproduction, gastrointestinal, immune, organ damage, age degeneration, as well as problems with insulin and cholesterol.
Even though Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds does not have subtitles or languages other than English, the documentary was an awakening to a problem that is plaguing our farmers, their lands, crops, seeds and eventually our way of life. The special features are packed with interviews with environmentalists, food historians, seed savers, farmers, activists, and others. Hear the story of these heroic individuals who spend their lives preserving the organic heirloom seeds and educating others to preserve and share these seeds to ensure the future of our generations. After viewing Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds, you too might feel their passion and find your part in this plight, even if its just preserving seeds for your own heirs to pass on.
