My job presents many opportunities to meet interesting people. One such individual is Petra Page-Mann. She is co-owner of Fruition Seeds in Naples and was in Geneva recently to help kick off a “seed swap” and is a main factor in the Geneva Public Library starting its own seed library.
Over 70 people attended the event. As she stood before everyone and spoke it was clear she was passionate about what she does. She cheerfully expresses her thoughts in a way that makes her quite likable and easy to listen to. Sort of a peace, love and happiness vibe that is very genuine and reminiscent of the hippie generation.
I say genuine because I would meet up to chat with her at length days later at Fruition’s 24-acre farm in Naples.
Petra, 40, laughs often and smiles easily and seems to have such an optimistic outlook regardless of any “essential crisis being her daily bread.”
Born and raised in Naples she always was keen on gardening even as a little kid watching her father tending the family garden.
As she grew older she would come to realize that agriculture was an intersection for a lot of her passions, which includes eating, growing food, dance, justice, singing, saving seeds and lastly the idea that farms can engage a community through various projects.
She would spend much of her 20s working at many small-scale organic farms across the country.
Twelve years ago Fruition Seeds was created. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, the company shares organic, regionally adapted seeds while also offering the tools needed for inspiration and insight with the hope all can thrive.
Seeds are at the center of it — over 300 varieties of certified organic vegetables, flowers and herbs. For Petra seeds are a metaphor for the growth and capacity to adapt and change. A kind of gift from our ancestors and a way we also can become good ancestors.
Petra tells me that though seeds have existed for millions upon millions of years, seed companies have been around for only 150 years.
Her hope and wish is for the sharing and growing of seeds to become so widespread that ultimately there would be no more need for a seed company to sell them. Basically she is in business to put herself out of business … all for the greater good.
Fruition employs 12 people and hopes to transition into an employee owned company. They grow, package and sell seeds. They grow 60% of their seeds and the rest are sourced primarily from regional organic seed growers. Their most popular seller are basil seeds.
Personally, Petra doesn’t shop at your regular food market like many of us. She feels the current food system is set up to feed but often ignores nutrition. So, she trades and exchanges her own products for others — including meat — to not only eat very well but also healthy.
When asked when was the last time she ate at McDonald’s, she paused before replying, “Probably when I was in middle school.”
Petra has initiated annual seed swaps in Rochester, Naples and now Geneva. Each has its own seed library.
A seed library catalogues seeds. People then can come in and get seeds to plant at their homes, etc. Hopefully they can replenish the library with any seeds they might have later on. Fortunately, the annual seed swaps help with keeping the supplies maintained with Fruition Seeds donating many back to the cause.
Petra’s life is on many levels completely invested in the seed concept. Her goal is to make land preservation and healthy food sourcing part of a regular conversation.
To help do that Fruition Seeds holds many events about many topics such as what to plant now, timing is everything. Upcoming workshops include: April 27, On-farm Workshop: Planting Trees & Planning Orchards; May 11, On-farm Workshop: Let’s Make Seed Balls for Mother’s Day; May 18, On-farm Workshop: Succession Sowing in Soil Blocks & Beyond; May 1, 4-7 p.m., Trumansburg Seed Swap and Dirty Fingernails Garden Camp; July 15-19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for 10-13 year olds; July 22-26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for 7-9 year olds.
One particular event that seems quite fun is held in early August. It is the annual tomato harvest. People come and harvest thousands of pounds of organic tomatoes and tear apart the fruit’s flesh for the seeds. A messy, good time is always had by all. In late August a similar event is held with melons. For more information go to www.fruitionseeds.com or look up the company on Facebook where you can listen to videos illustrating Petra’s passions.
Petra says seeds are agents of joy and generosity. Someone who inspires her is Rowen White, a Seed Keeper and farmer from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne and a passionate activist for indigenous seed and food sovereignty. Some things to learn from White are:
• She describes the ancient relationship between humans and seeds as one that is “written in our blood and our bones.”
• Taking care of the land, the seeds and plants is what has taken care of people, and if you are not hungry, then the seeds are holding up their part of the bargain.
• “Every garden is a seed bank,” White has said, noting that more diversity would provide more opportunity during times of climate change, bringing resilience and adaptivity to our seed stock.
• The seed is the symbol for abundance, the one that turns into 100, and the 100 that turns into 1,000.
Petra is passionate about seeds, and hopefully readers will find her story food for thought.
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