EP. 20: The Iraqi Seed Collective and Awafi Kitchen

Seeds And Their People

In late February 2023, Annabel Rabiyah and Amanda Chin of the Iraqi Seed Collective visited the Truelove Seeds office to help fill the first packets of Iraqi Seed Collective seeds (Iraqi Reehan Basil, grown by Experimental Farm Network), and prepare some of their other collectively-grown seeds for germination testing. We took the opportunity to record conversations with them about Annabel's work with Awafi Kitchen, which focuses on preserving traditional Iraqi Jewish food, and about their seed collective, which works with a wide array of gardeners and farmers from Iraq and the Iraqi diaspora in the US. At the end of this episode, you will hear from several other collective members who sent short phone recordings about their transformative moments being part of the collective, as well as a recording Annabel sent after returning from their family's first trip back to Iraq in 50 years. The episode begins with answering some listener questions about growing and cooking Mustard Greens, dealing with the Squash Vine Borer, and shelling peas with kids.

SEED STORIES TOLD IN THIS EPISODE:

Introduction:

• Broadleaf Mustard Greens
• Squash Vine Borer in Pennsylvania

SEED STORIES:

• Sesame
• Rice
• Aswad Eggplant
• Amba (Mango, Cayenne, Fenugreek, Turmeric)
• Ali Baba Watermelon
• Rashad (Chamsur)
• Al Kuffa Tomato
• Fava Bean
• Winter Melon
• Flax

MORE INFO FROM THIS EPISODE:

• 2023 Iraqi Seed Collective General Interest Form
• Iraqi Seed Collective (Instagram)
• The Awafi Kitchen (Webpage)
• The Awafi Kitchen (Instagram)
• Beidth al Tbeet: Deconstructing the political history of an Iraqi Jewish meal (Youtube)
• Garrett Williamson
• PA Flax Project

ABOUT:

Seeds And Their People is a radio show where we feature seed stories told by the people who truly love them. Hosted by Owen Taylor of Truelove Seeds and Chris Bolden-Newsome of Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden.

trueloveseeds.com/blogs/satpradio

FIND OWEN HERE:

Truelove Seeds

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FIND CHRIS HERE:

Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden

THANKS TO:

• Annabel "Nibal" Rabiyah - Massachusettes
• Amanda Chin - Pennsylvania
• Rivka-Suad Ben Daniel - Southern California
• Ali Hamad - Tennessee
• Monique Mansour - Southern California
• Sarmed Yasser Jabra - Michigan
• Ali Ruxin - New York
• Rabab Al-Amin - Maryland
• Cecilia Sweet-Coll (for consistent helpful feedback)