In 1970, the South Korean government pushed for “the green revolution” under president Park’s authoritarian regime. Korea was in the process of transforming into an industrial society from an agricultural community and this transformation came with a globalization of the market and radically capitalized values.

The Green Revolution

South Koran government was promoting chemical fertilizers, GMO’s, and foreign seeding/breeding technology heavily influenced by the west to compete in trade treaties such as UR(Uruguay Round), WTO(World Trade Organization), and FTA(free trade agreement). This aggressive development suddenly invaded our land and declared our practices as ‘primitive’. It threatened our ecosystem and food sovereignty. Female farmers of this agronomy community witnessed this alarming deterioration and decided they needed to take action. They started their own revolution, created a movement called Wooritutbat Project (우리텃밭 사업, Our land project). They continued the tradition of organic practice, focusing on biodynamic and indigenous farming methods. This significantly re-generated the land and promoted vibrant ecosystems for the soil, insects, animals, and microbes.
Korean 5 cent coin — created in the 80s to memorize and celebrate the historic green revolution movement

This farming revolution built its own food supply system from the ground up as well: organic, affordable, and community focues. They established their own infrastructure, creating a direct transactional system between farmers and consumers. This model has been successful providing fresh, seasonal vegetables and crops directly to consumers. Also, it allowed farmers to take back financial ownership and food sovereignty in the market.
The mothers of our land knew when our land was being colonized and gracefully fought back and still continuing the fight. Through this research, I hope to honor Korean female farmers’ incredible resilience and carry the spirit in solidarity ❃

Seed Sovereignty

Neo-colonialism: GMO and chemical fertilizer
There is an underlying sense of an implicit hierarchy in the words and narrative being used in agriculture. Third world farmers were often called ‘primitive cultivators’, while modern, lab-created western corporation’s seed varieties and farming tech are called ‘advanced’, ‘elite’, and ‘efficient’. Korean agricultural society respected nature’s limits. We only took what the land had to offer. This ensured the renewability of plant and soil fertility. But industrialized agriculture perceived this natural process as a barrier to overcome. The industry-made seed and fertilizer were considered ‘superior’, yet these methods turned our soil fertility and crops into a non-renewable resource. GMO seeds require expensive fertilizers, pesticides, and specific caring. This threatens traditional agriculture, harms biodiversity, and puts farmers and communities in devastating cycles of debt and poverty all around the world. Seeds trapped in royalty no longer belong to this land.
Unsustainable seeds
GMO companies insist payment of license or royalties. They use Genetic use restriciton technology(GURT)¹ , also known as terminator technology or suicide seeds, is the name given to these methods that force plants to only germinate once for increased profits. FI varieties, Terminator ² and Tractor, etc. are disposable seeds that farmers must purchase each year. In addition, because of its limited vitality, it cannot survive without relying on chemicals, so it can only grow with appropriate pesticides.

Land Manifesto

Native seeds have stable yields every year because the seeds and traits are indigenous to our land. It will continuously produce and flourish by adapting to our land and climate. They are resistant to natural disasters and can be self-cultivated to ensure the safety of supply. Native seeds will be the beginning of reviving agriculture and food sovereignty protection. We must replace seeds trapped in corporate system. Our seeds will carry the knowledge of our community, abundant food resources and care of our mothers to our future generations.

1.Genetic use restriciton technology(GURT)
2.Terminator seeds

Books

1. Ecofeminism Shiva, Vandana, and Maria Mies 2014
2. Food Justice Now Joshua Sbicca
3. Black Food Geographies Ashanté M. Reese
4. Food justice A Primer Saryta Rodriguez
5. Women and Work in a Sustainable Society Maria Mies
6. Food Justice By Robert Gottlieb Robert Gottlieb and Anupama Joshi
7. Ron Finley
8. Woman and Nature Susan Griffin
9. Guerrilla Gardening

Helpful Links

1. GMO and neo-colonialism
2. Sisters Garden (Korean Website)
3. Seed Sovereignty
4. Decolonizing food ways
5. Soul Fire Farm
6. afs africa
7. Native Food Alliance
8. Biotechnology- solution to hunger?
9. East Branch Farms
10. Bodhi Tree Farms
11. Norwich Meadows Farm

Gardening resources/Where to buy

1. JADAM Farming
2. Holt Garden They sell Korean seeds
3. Natty Garden Gardening supplies

There are sooooo many great resources and tutorials online. I highly suggest starting with youtube tutorials.
*Some of my favorite references: 1, 2 ,3
Here is my garden setting:

• $9.99 Shlef
• $20-40 Grow Lights — Grow lights are not a must if you have plenty of sunlight but I find them helpful for growth of my plants. I recommend leaving the light on for 14 to 18 hours a day. Be aware that this will add to your monthly electricity bill.
• $10 Mylar film — This is recommended if you want to achieve the best results possible for your indoor garden. Mylar film increase reflectivity up to 98%.
• Planters and soil are available at any plant shop. If you are in NY area, please check out LES Ecology center for nutritious compost soil