Seed knowledge, displacement, native ecology, design
~ Kevin Zambrano
When I began collecting seeds, I initially felt puzzlement towards how I might present the data within the collected specimens. Slowly, however, as my skillset increased with each module, I became aware of how to apply these to the work with seeds. This eventually led to the creation of the seed library which houses every specimen, along with general information such as: location, germination method, and whether the plant is native. Each of these is meant to further the understanding behind the seeds, For example, the traditional binary of native/invasive labeling for plants can divert attention away from how the plant may be used for human purposes. A well-known invasive, like Amaranthus sp., or Amaranth is a prolific spreader of seeds. Yet, the use of Amaranth is documented in early Mesoamerican civilizations as a spiritually important crop. Amaranth became loathed by Spanish colonizers due the plant’s perceived pagan connection. Thus, the plant became banned, anyone caught growing the plant faced execution. Context like this complicates nebulous terms like invasive, allowing for a more nuanced approach. Once completed, my seed library will contain information that addresses the history of the plat. The library will also contain their dispersal method, and although the idea is still in its infancy, another approach is assembling a map that renders visible the distance covered by seeds. This information would convey the importance of seeds to an audience that may be unfamiliar with their potential. Seeds like those from a mangrove have the potential to change costliness when they drift in the open sea and root near substrate that can tolerate their growth. Information like this could then be used to present how other species travel through dynamic forces even when they seemingly appear passive. This interaction between seeds and environment could also be translated to narratives of migration within human populations. Tracing the movement of seeds offers many possibilities.
