AFSR Sydney

Welcome to the home page of the Sydney chapter of the Australian Free Seed Ring. As with the other chapters, we coordinate the circulation of seeds of plant species of ethnobotanical interest. Broadly speaking, this means any plant that is or has been used by humankind, for food, medicine, or any other purpose. We hope to:

• Keep unusual, rare and endangered species and strains in cultivation
• Help interested parties obtain seeds for a diverse range of interesting plants
• Promote and preserve knowledge about the uses of plants that is otherwise on the way out of humanity's collective wealth.

All AFSRs are operated on a non-profit basis. Discussion among seed ring participants or other interested people is encouraged. Please use the Ebsyd mailing list for this purpose. To contact us directly, mail seedringsyd@ethnobotanica.org.

How to obtain seed

• A list of species you would like to grow (see list below)
• Some money to cover postage costs ($1 or more)
• Optionally, a donation of seed if you have some to spare (see below for help choosing what to send)
• Your postal address

AFSR (c/o R.E.)
P.O. Box 781
Epping NSW 1710

If requesting named strains or cultivars of plants that pollinate freely, please limit yourself to growing one strain of any given species. This will preserve the genetic identity of the strain.

Your request will be processed as quickly as possible. Although we do not deal in prohibited species, for your privacy no records of your order will be kept.

When your plants bear fruit, please remember to harvest and return to the seed ring as much seed as you can. This will ensure that the seed ring is sustainable.

Stock list

Seeds of the following species are available. In most cases stock is very limited, so small quantities will be issued. If you would like a large amount of seed, say so (and why) and we will consider your request given availability.

• Anadenanthera columbrina 'tomtom'
• Argyreia nervosa 'SAB'
• Argyreia nervosa 'Gomaos'
• Artemisia absinthum
• Atropa belladonna
• Capsicum annum 'Takanotsume' (Chilli)
• Capsicum annum 'Grandé' (Chilli)
• Capsicum baccatum 'Bishops Crown' (Chilli)
• Capsicum frutescens 'Yellow Tabasco' (Chilli)
• Catha edulis
• Desmanthus illinoensis
• Eschscholzia californica
• Hyoscyamus niger 'tomtom'
• Ipomoea violacea
• Ipomoea violacea 'West Indies' (2 seeds only)
• Lophophora williamsii
• Nelumbo nucifera
• Nepeta cataria (Catnip)
• Nicotiana gossei 'USDA'
• Nicotiana mix
• Papaver somiferum 'Indian Raja'
• Papaver somiferum 'Hens & Chicks'
• Papaver somiferum 'Ailette' (French commercial)
• Peganum harmala
• Solanum xanthocarpum (Thai eggplant)
• Unidentified purple culinary beans
• Unidentified hot chilli

We need more seed!

The seed ring is fairly limited in its selection and stock levels. If you have any seed to spare, it would be great if you could donate it!

We are interested in any plant that is used by humankind. But if you need some help narrowing down what to send, plants that are particularly suited to the Sydney AFSR are those that fulfill one or more of the following criteria:

• Grow readily in the greater Sydney area
• Are quick to produce seed (to maintain and expand the ring's stock)
• Are not already in widespread cultivation -- particularly native species

If you would like to donate, please send your seed to the address listed above.

Thanks!

NOTE:Please do not send seeds, cuttings, tissue, spores or any other material from Cannabis spp., Salvia divinorum, Erythroxylum coca, E. novogranatense, Mitragyna speciosa or psilocybin-bearing fungi (Psilocybe spp., Paneolus spp., etc.). While these species are of definite ethnobotanical interest, they are all prohibited by law, or contain prohibited substances. The seed ring will not deal in illegal species.