Chinese Name: 種子野台工作室
Established: 2012
Founder: Chien Tzu-lun (簡子倫)
Official Website: https://wild-seed-library.mystrikingly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wild.seed.library
Did You Know That…?
Born in the 1980s, Chien Tzu-lun is an artist and a farmer with a deep interest in biodiversity and ethnobotany. In 2012, he founded Wild Seed Library (種子野台) and became active in the seed conservation movement, initiating projects such as research, field trips, visual documentation, event planning, and art creations.
Wild Seed Library focuses on seed conservation and its promotion in Taiwan, educating the public on agricultural diversity and fostering cross-sector collaboration. Residing in Hualien, Chien reflected on his experiences in local farming activities and observed that locals lack resources and knowledge about traditional crops. Emphasizing the importance of biodiversity, he upholds the belief that “no farming exists without seed, no sustainability without biodiversity, and no common good without sharing.” Chien collaborates with local organizations to raise awareness of the need to protect local flora.
Chien thinks that the decline of traditional crops is, to some extent, a result of the free market, where crops that are easier to grow and manage have become mainstream and widespread. However, this trend has led to a decrease in biodiversity, which affects both the landscape and the culture of agricultural villages. As a result, these communities face the loss of traditional farming techniques, creating a generational gap in farming knowledge and food culture. Food culture is significant not only because it carries a community’s collective memories but also because traditional crops reflect the land’s environmental conditions and could play a crucial role in combating agricultural challenges, especially under the stress of extreme weather conditions.
It is commonly believed that seed conservation is just an act of safeguarding seeds and planting them in a new environment that meets the necessary conditions. However, Chien observed that in India, these projects not only preserved seeds but also strengthened collaborative networks, farming ecosystems, mixed-farming models, and the spiritual industry. In Japan, he noted that seed conservation projects spearheaded community-based initiatives, such as crop exchanges, farmer markets, and agricultural education. Through Wild Seed Library, Chien emphasizes that to effectively promote seed conservation, these values and practices must be deeply integrated into everyday life.
(Image: Wild Seed Library)