Awakening Compassion for Seeds
Tax deductible
AWAKENING COMPASSION FOR SEEDS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS
“We are here because of a vision; the ancestors, the spirit of the Grandmothers, have told us to teach all of the children of the world all that we know, for generations to come”
~ Grandmother Flordemayo ~
Please Watch Grandmother Flordemayo with Mz. Imani as she talks about the Seeds
"I am sending my prayers of gratitude to everyone in the Four Directions that have supported myself and The Path with their prayers and good wishes. I am so appreciative, and touched by your prayers, and constant support. I have received so many cards, emails, visitors, phone calls, attendance at events and lectures, volunteers, as well as financial support and I am so deeply touched in my heart. I hold everyone in my prayers daily. It warms my heart that last year we were able to cover our bills and bring into conversation the importance of saving the seeds for future generations. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude ." Grandmother Flordemayo
Find out more information about The Path
A LETTER FROM FLORDEMAYO
Dear Beloved Friends and Family in the Four Directions:
Humanity is at a crossroads. Many years ago, I had a vision to raise the spiritual consciousness between humans and Mother Earth. In order to accomplish this, I founded a non-profit organization called “The Path,” whose mission is to conserve and distribute seeds for future generations.
The Path is located on 40-acres in Estancia, New Mexico, just east of Albuquerque. Estancia is translated as the “place of rest.” On the 40-Acres are five sacred temples for humanity: The Seed Temple, The Temple of the Golden Child, The Water Temple, The Fire Temple, Wind Temple, and the Earth Temple.
As humanity struggles, so has The Path. It has been a challenge to find the resources and funding necessary to maintain the 40 acres. We must rely on volunteers to assist with various chores such as mowing and cleaning, paying people when we need to address more extensive repairs such as heating or air conditioning. While the climate in Estancia is somewhat temperate, the buildings must be transitioned between seasons including winterization.
Our intention is to bring renewable and sustainable technologies to The Path, such as solar and/or wind power, indoor agriculture (container farming). This would create economic opportunity for the local community, apprenticeships and internships for students with hands-on training in these technologies and support The Path in a more sustainable way.
If I can’t raise the funds to sustain the costs of The Path as an elder, I must still consider putting the land, temples and buildings up for sale to an individual(s) or organization to care for both the physical and invisible community. My life’s mission is to preserve the seeds. In 2019, I have been asked to bring awareness about the Seeds to new audiences around the world and need to raise enough funds with this fundraiser and the next three years of travel, to sustain The Path for ten years.
I humbly ask for you to go within and consider giving to The Annual Path Fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the costs associated with maintaining the Path, and the various temples, including The Seed Temple. We are all called to give from our hearts as a way to inspire personal philanthropy during the holiday season. The fundraiser will remain open until December 31, 2018. As always, your contribution is tax-deductible. If you are unable to give, please share with your network.
If each person who read this campaign gave $25 we would reach our goal!
Help me support the seeds for our children, grandchildren and our grandchildren’s children. For the next seven generations.
Your generous donations to The Path are appreciated and make my work, vision and mission in life possible. Thank you for your continued support.
May you be blessed with Love & Light.
Grandmother Flordemayo
“Together as one, we are joining hands in our deed and prayers”
~ Grandmother Flordemayo ~
Find out more information about Grandmother Flordemayo
A MESSAGE FROM GREG SCHOEN
SEED KEEPER AT THE PATH
The Seed Temple is the realization of Grandmother Flordemayo's original vision of a place where the sacred heritage seeds would be protected for future generations. It has existed since 2012 and has served as a source of seed for the local area, such as the Estancia Seed Library, as well as for many individuals in New Mexico and elsewhere. The many gatherings on the site have involved educational classes, sharing of seeds, and celebration of the spirituality carried in the seeds.
Now more than ever it is important that we protect and increase our heritage seeds for the future and for our communities. Much of the diversity of seeds is being lost as fewer people are planting the original seeds, as modern agriculture has turned to genetically modified and patented seed to produce our crops.
The seeds in our collection have come from numerous donations of samples of traditional varieties of corn, beans, squash, grains, vegetables, and herbs. The Seed Temple is designed as a controlled environment that protects the viability of the seeds stored. From the Seed Temple, many kinds of seeds from our collection have been sent to volunteers who have helped grow and increase them, to keep them strong and to provide a stock source to distribute to others. Working to preserve these seeds gives us a sense of purpose and unity and fosters the relationships in community which are our true wealth.
The Seed Temple networks with other organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and with seed preservation groups and individuals in the Southwest and beyond. It holds a special place in the future of the worldwide movement to preserve our sacred seeds.
ABOUT GREG SCHOEN
Since his youth, Greg has explored his interest in the natural world, and throughout his adult life, fostered his enthusiasm and involvement in horticulture, botany and ecology. Through this interest and his travels throughout the Southwest since 1988, he has acquired a useful body of knowledge of regional native botany and ecosystems. Greg maintains a focus in the cultivation of heritage and medicinal plants in an arid climate, within an intentional community setting.
In 1995, Greg befriended Carl Barnes, a Cherokee elder from Oklahoma, and had the good fortune of working with him over the following years. During that time Carl passed on much of his wisdom, along with seeds of many traditional and sacred varieties of corn. It was through spending time with Carl, and through growing these seeds for several seasons in New Mexico, that Greg began to find deeper insights into the spiritual nature of corn, and our seed heritage as a whole. Through this journey, Greg has taken a deep interest in seed preservation and crop diversity and its importance for humanity on many levels. Greg holds degrees in botany and horticulture from Oklahoma State University.
“Seed keeping can be a bridge toward world peace.”
~Greg Schoen~
THE PATH MISSION & VISION
The mission of the Path is to conserve and distribute seeds for the future generations. We meet our mission through seed conservation, education, and collaboration with other organizations and indigenous communities.
Our Vision is to raise the spiritual consciousness on the inter-connectedness between humanity and Mother Earth.
GRANDMOTHER FLORDEMAYO
About the Visionary of The Path
Grandmother Flordemayo was born in highlands of Central America, in Nicaguara and was the youngest of 15 children. She was born under the sign for the seed or Q’anil, in Mayan astrology. She is a Curandera Espiritu, or a healer of divine spirit. As a seer, she has the ability to see other realms of color, light, and sound. Flordemayo has the ability to see the effects of existing imbalances on the physical, emotional and spiritual realms within a person's energy system.
A sought after presenter, she has traveled around the world offering ceremonies and prayers, speaking on a wide range of topics from healing with the use of herbs to her more recent project, The Seed Temple.
Flordemayo was one of the founding members of The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers , a prestigious group of indigenous women elders drawn from around the world, who represent a global alliance of prayer, education, and healing for our Mother Earth, all sentient beings and for the next seven generations to come.
Being born under the sign of the seed, Flordemayo sees her role as cosmic germinator through teaching, community, manifestation and sustainable development. In 2012, Flordemayo received a vision during dialogue with the Beloved Mother. In the vision, Flordemayo sees herself sitting in a rocking chair, rocking back and forth, and being guided to prepare seed bundles with prayer. The seed bundles are to be given to the parents of children being born today and those yet to be born in the future. She sees her role as a caretaker of seeds through prayer.
On behalf of Grandmother Flordemayo, The Path Board and Volunteers - May you be blessed with Love & Light.
GRANDMOTHER FLORDEMAYO™
WHY DO THE SEEDS NEED PROTECTING?
There is a grave threat to the loss of the heritage seeds due to contamination from the genetically modified (GMO) seeds through cross pollination and misguided disuse by gardeners and farmers, which equates to the ultimate threat to a sustainable food supply.
WHAT KIND OF SEEDS WILL BE HOUSED IN THE SEED VAULT AND HOW WILL THEY BE PROTECTED?
The Path will collect, protect and share food, medicinal plant and flower seeds. A naturally-temperature controlled environment will protect the seeds. Each species of seeds will be carefully categorized and sealed in glass jars to keep them viable. The Path will receive their seeds locally and around the world.
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT?
In addition to preparing the seed temple, we will, need to recuperate the seeds in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse, container farming and/or organic gardening. Proper filtration systems (hepa-filters) will keep the integrity of the heritage seeds from GMO-contamination. The Path will also require individuals who will administer the distribution of seeds from the Seed Temple so that future generations will be served through the use of these precious heritage seeds.
THE CASE FOR SEED SAVING
Saving seeds not only helps improve agricultural biodiversity, but also helps farmers and researchers find varieties of crops that grow better in different regions, especially as the impacts of climate change become more prevalent.
Roughly 100,000 global plant varieties are endangered today. Extreme weather events, over-exploitation of ecosystems, habitat loss, and a lack of public awareness threaten future plant biodiversity. Conservation techniques, such as the creation of seed banks and seed exchanges among farmers, gardeners, and even nations, play an important role in preserving ancient, heirloom varieties of important food crops. Currently, there are more than 1,000 known seed banks, collaboratives and exchanges around the world.
WHAT IS HEIRLOOM?
Heirloom seeds come from open-pollinated plants that pass on similar characteristics and traits from the parent plant to the child plant. There is no concrete definition that every gardener uses to define heirloom plants. Some people state that heirloom plants are those that were introduced before 1951, while others state that heirloom varieties are those introduced before the 1920s. In general, you should consider heirlooms to be seeds that are possible to regrow and pass on from one generation to the next.
One important thing to note for heirloom plants is whether they are organic or non-organic. In most cases, heirloom plants are organic because they are generally only used by small-scale gardeners who do not use pesticide or other harmful chemicals. However, there may be minor cases when chemicals do get involved since heirloom plants do not always have a similar level of innate protection that hybrid and GMO plants provide against diseases and pests. Remember, heirloom refers to the heritage of a plant, while organic refers to a growing practice. They are two different things.
HEIRLOOM VS. HYBRID VS. GMO
There are some distinct differences that one should be aware of when it comes to heirloom, hybrid and GMO plants. First, heirloom plants are the only ones that breed true. As mentioned earlier, this means the same characteristics are passed on from generation to generation. The same cannot be said for hybrid and GMO. Hybrid plants are produced when different varieties of plants are cross-pollinated, which can happen with or without human intervention. Because there are different varieties of plants involved, it can’t be guaranteed that the offspring of hybrid plants produces identical traits as the parent plant.
Both heirloom and hybrid plants can be viewed as natural occurrences. GMO plants, on the other hand, can only be produced using unnatural methods such as gene splicing. Scientists essentially modify a seed’s DNA to ensure the resulting plant produces the desired traits and characteristics. A common example of a GMO plant is Bt-Corn.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HEIRLOOM SEEDS
Heirloom seeds are dependable like many things created in the past. The seeds have been open pollinated which means they were pollinated by wind, bees, or human hands.
Either way, it takes a great deal of effort to keep heirloom seeds true. You must keep them separated from other hybrid plants to ensure they don’t become crossed.
THANK YOU AND BLESSINGS
If you would like to make a donation by mail, please make check payable to:
The Path
PO Box 1163
Estancia, NM 87016
The Path is a 501(c)3 non-for-profit corporation. Our EIN is #46-4894140. Your contribution qualifies as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes.
How Can you Help?
If you are unable to donate, please follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share this fundraiser on social media.
Amazon donates to The Path when you shop
Donate to the Path with Paypal
To become a member and give monthly to The Path
To learn about the Seed Temple
Find out more about The Path
Find out more about Grandmother Flordemayo
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Facebook
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Twitter
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Instagram
“We are here because of a vision; the ancestors, the spirit of the Grandmothers, have told us to teach all of the children of the world all that we know, for generations to come”
~ Grandmother Flordemayo ~
Please Watch Grandmother Flordemayo with Mz. Imani as she talks about the Seeds
"I am sending my prayers of gratitude to everyone in the Four Directions that have supported myself and The Path with their prayers and good wishes. I am so appreciative, and touched by your prayers, and constant support. I have received so many cards, emails, visitors, phone calls, attendance at events and lectures, volunteers, as well as financial support and I am so deeply touched in my heart. I hold everyone in my prayers daily. It warms my heart that last year we were able to cover our bills and bring into conversation the importance of saving the seeds for future generations. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude ." Grandmother Flordemayo
Find out more information about The Path
A LETTER FROM FLORDEMAYO
Dear Beloved Friends and Family in the Four Directions:
Humanity is at a crossroads. Many years ago, I had a vision to raise the spiritual consciousness between humans and Mother Earth. In order to accomplish this, I founded a non-profit organization called “The Path,” whose mission is to conserve and distribute seeds for future generations.
The Path is located on 40-acres in Estancia, New Mexico, just east of Albuquerque. Estancia is translated as the “place of rest.” On the 40-Acres are five sacred temples for humanity: The Seed Temple, The Temple of the Golden Child, The Water Temple, The Fire Temple, Wind Temple, and the Earth Temple.
As humanity struggles, so has The Path. It has been a challenge to find the resources and funding necessary to maintain the 40 acres. We must rely on volunteers to assist with various chores such as mowing and cleaning, paying people when we need to address more extensive repairs such as heating or air conditioning. While the climate in Estancia is somewhat temperate, the buildings must be transitioned between seasons including winterization.
Our intention is to bring renewable and sustainable technologies to The Path, such as solar and/or wind power, indoor agriculture (container farming). This would create economic opportunity for the local community, apprenticeships and internships for students with hands-on training in these technologies and support The Path in a more sustainable way.
If I can’t raise the funds to sustain the costs of The Path as an elder, I must still consider putting the land, temples and buildings up for sale to an individual(s) or organization to care for both the physical and invisible community. My life’s mission is to preserve the seeds. In 2019, I have been asked to bring awareness about the Seeds to new audiences around the world and need to raise enough funds with this fundraiser and the next three years of travel, to sustain The Path for ten years.
I humbly ask for you to go within and consider giving to The Annual Path Fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the costs associated with maintaining the Path, and the various temples, including The Seed Temple. We are all called to give from our hearts as a way to inspire personal philanthropy during the holiday season. The fundraiser will remain open until December 31, 2018. As always, your contribution is tax-deductible. If you are unable to give, please share with your network.
If each person who read this campaign gave $25 we would reach our goal!
Help me support the seeds for our children, grandchildren and our grandchildren’s children. For the next seven generations.
Your generous donations to The Path are appreciated and make my work, vision and mission in life possible. Thank you for your continued support.
May you be blessed with Love & Light.
Grandmother Flordemayo
“Together as one, we are joining hands in our deed and prayers”
~ Grandmother Flordemayo ~
Find out more information about Grandmother Flordemayo
A MESSAGE FROM GREG SCHOEN
SEED KEEPER AT THE PATH
The Seed Temple is the realization of Grandmother Flordemayo's original vision of a place where the sacred heritage seeds would be protected for future generations. It has existed since 2012 and has served as a source of seed for the local area, such as the Estancia Seed Library, as well as for many individuals in New Mexico and elsewhere. The many gatherings on the site have involved educational classes, sharing of seeds, and celebration of the spirituality carried in the seeds.
Now more than ever it is important that we protect and increase our heritage seeds for the future and for our communities. Much of the diversity of seeds is being lost as fewer people are planting the original seeds, as modern agriculture has turned to genetically modified and patented seed to produce our crops.
The seeds in our collection have come from numerous donations of samples of traditional varieties of corn, beans, squash, grains, vegetables, and herbs. The Seed Temple is designed as a controlled environment that protects the viability of the seeds stored. From the Seed Temple, many kinds of seeds from our collection have been sent to volunteers who have helped grow and increase them, to keep them strong and to provide a stock source to distribute to others. Working to preserve these seeds gives us a sense of purpose and unity and fosters the relationships in community which are our true wealth.
The Seed Temple networks with other organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance and with seed preservation groups and individuals in the Southwest and beyond. It holds a special place in the future of the worldwide movement to preserve our sacred seeds.
ABOUT GREG SCHOEN
Since his youth, Greg has explored his interest in the natural world, and throughout his adult life, fostered his enthusiasm and involvement in horticulture, botany and ecology. Through this interest and his travels throughout the Southwest since 1988, he has acquired a useful body of knowledge of regional native botany and ecosystems. Greg maintains a focus in the cultivation of heritage and medicinal plants in an arid climate, within an intentional community setting.
In 1995, Greg befriended Carl Barnes, a Cherokee elder from Oklahoma, and had the good fortune of working with him over the following years. During that time Carl passed on much of his wisdom, along with seeds of many traditional and sacred varieties of corn. It was through spending time with Carl, and through growing these seeds for several seasons in New Mexico, that Greg began to find deeper insights into the spiritual nature of corn, and our seed heritage as a whole. Through this journey, Greg has taken a deep interest in seed preservation and crop diversity and its importance for humanity on many levels. Greg holds degrees in botany and horticulture from Oklahoma State University.
“Seed keeping can be a bridge toward world peace.”
~Greg Schoen~
THE PATH MISSION & VISION
The mission of the Path is to conserve and distribute seeds for the future generations. We meet our mission through seed conservation, education, and collaboration with other organizations and indigenous communities.
Our Vision is to raise the spiritual consciousness on the inter-connectedness between humanity and Mother Earth.
GRANDMOTHER FLORDEMAYO
About the Visionary of The Path
Grandmother Flordemayo was born in highlands of Central America, in Nicaguara and was the youngest of 15 children. She was born under the sign for the seed or Q’anil, in Mayan astrology. She is a Curandera Espiritu, or a healer of divine spirit. As a seer, she has the ability to see other realms of color, light, and sound. Flordemayo has the ability to see the effects of existing imbalances on the physical, emotional and spiritual realms within a person's energy system.
A sought after presenter, she has traveled around the world offering ceremonies and prayers, speaking on a wide range of topics from healing with the use of herbs to her more recent project, The Seed Temple.
Flordemayo was one of the founding members of The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers , a prestigious group of indigenous women elders drawn from around the world, who represent a global alliance of prayer, education, and healing for our Mother Earth, all sentient beings and for the next seven generations to come.
Being born under the sign of the seed, Flordemayo sees her role as cosmic germinator through teaching, community, manifestation and sustainable development. In 2012, Flordemayo received a vision during dialogue with the Beloved Mother. In the vision, Flordemayo sees herself sitting in a rocking chair, rocking back and forth, and being guided to prepare seed bundles with prayer. The seed bundles are to be given to the parents of children being born today and those yet to be born in the future. She sees her role as a caretaker of seeds through prayer.
On behalf of Grandmother Flordemayo, The Path Board and Volunteers - May you be blessed with Love & Light.
GRANDMOTHER FLORDEMAYO™
WHY DO THE SEEDS NEED PROTECTING?
There is a grave threat to the loss of the heritage seeds due to contamination from the genetically modified (GMO) seeds through cross pollination and misguided disuse by gardeners and farmers, which equates to the ultimate threat to a sustainable food supply.
WHAT KIND OF SEEDS WILL BE HOUSED IN THE SEED VAULT AND HOW WILL THEY BE PROTECTED?
The Path will collect, protect and share food, medicinal plant and flower seeds. A naturally-temperature controlled environment will protect the seeds. Each species of seeds will be carefully categorized and sealed in glass jars to keep them viable. The Path will receive their seeds locally and around the world.
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT?
In addition to preparing the seed temple, we will, need to recuperate the seeds in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse, container farming and/or organic gardening. Proper filtration systems (hepa-filters) will keep the integrity of the heritage seeds from GMO-contamination. The Path will also require individuals who will administer the distribution of seeds from the Seed Temple so that future generations will be served through the use of these precious heritage seeds.
THE CASE FOR SEED SAVING
Saving seeds not only helps improve agricultural biodiversity, but also helps farmers and researchers find varieties of crops that grow better in different regions, especially as the impacts of climate change become more prevalent.
Roughly 100,000 global plant varieties are endangered today. Extreme weather events, over-exploitation of ecosystems, habitat loss, and a lack of public awareness threaten future plant biodiversity. Conservation techniques, such as the creation of seed banks and seed exchanges among farmers, gardeners, and even nations, play an important role in preserving ancient, heirloom varieties of important food crops. Currently, there are more than 1,000 known seed banks, collaboratives and exchanges around the world.
WHAT IS HEIRLOOM?
Heirloom seeds come from open-pollinated plants that pass on similar characteristics and traits from the parent plant to the child plant. There is no concrete definition that every gardener uses to define heirloom plants. Some people state that heirloom plants are those that were introduced before 1951, while others state that heirloom varieties are those introduced before the 1920s. In general, you should consider heirlooms to be seeds that are possible to regrow and pass on from one generation to the next.
One important thing to note for heirloom plants is whether they are organic or non-organic. In most cases, heirloom plants are organic because they are generally only used by small-scale gardeners who do not use pesticide or other harmful chemicals. However, there may be minor cases when chemicals do get involved since heirloom plants do not always have a similar level of innate protection that hybrid and GMO plants provide against diseases and pests. Remember, heirloom refers to the heritage of a plant, while organic refers to a growing practice. They are two different things.
HEIRLOOM VS. HYBRID VS. GMO
There are some distinct differences that one should be aware of when it comes to heirloom, hybrid and GMO plants. First, heirloom plants are the only ones that breed true. As mentioned earlier, this means the same characteristics are passed on from generation to generation. The same cannot be said for hybrid and GMO. Hybrid plants are produced when different varieties of plants are cross-pollinated, which can happen with or without human intervention. Because there are different varieties of plants involved, it can’t be guaranteed that the offspring of hybrid plants produces identical traits as the parent plant.
Both heirloom and hybrid plants can be viewed as natural occurrences. GMO plants, on the other hand, can only be produced using unnatural methods such as gene splicing. Scientists essentially modify a seed’s DNA to ensure the resulting plant produces the desired traits and characteristics. A common example of a GMO plant is Bt-Corn.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HEIRLOOM SEEDS
Heirloom seeds are dependable like many things created in the past. The seeds have been open pollinated which means they were pollinated by wind, bees, or human hands.
Either way, it takes a great deal of effort to keep heirloom seeds true. You must keep them separated from other hybrid plants to ensure they don’t become crossed.
THANK YOU AND BLESSINGS
If you would like to make a donation by mail, please make check payable to:
The Path
PO Box 1163
Estancia, NM 87016
The Path is a 501(c)3 non-for-profit corporation. Our EIN is #46-4894140. Your contribution qualifies as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes.
How Can you Help?
If you are unable to donate, please follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share this fundraiser on social media.
Amazon donates to The Path when you shop
Donate to the Path with Paypal
To become a member and give monthly to The Path
To learn about the Seed Temple
Find out more about The Path
Find out more about Grandmother Flordemayo
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Facebook
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Twitter
Follow Grandmother Flordemayo on Instagram
Organizer
Heather Hall-Dudney
Organizer
Estancia, NM
The Path
Beneficiary