About Us
Seeds of Solidarity consists of two entities that are fiscally distinct, but connected by land, spirit and vision: Seeds of Solidarity Farm, and Seeds of Solidarity Education Center Inc, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization with a passionate staff of four, a sage board of directors, and wonderful community partnerships.
We provide consulting on educational program development and regenerative, no-till farming methods, and offer keynotes at conferences. Please contact solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org regarding fees.
Where It All Began
Seeds of Solidarity was founded by Ricky Baruc and Deb Habib who met in 1984 while
working at the
New Alchemy Institute on Cape
Cod MA, a small international organization whose purpose was to
design human-scale, low polluting alternatives to super technology and to design
and test intensive food growing methods
. New Alchemy's impact on
Ricky and Deb’s lives and that of many others was profound. They spent the next decade
or so farming (Ricky) and working in the fields of multicultural and environmental
education (Deb). Then in 1994/1995 took part in the International Pilgrimage for Peace
and Life, walking from Auschwitz to Hiroshima.
Seeds of Solidarity Farm and
Education Center was initiated in 1996, in the spirit of
New Alchemy and in honor of
those around the world helping to feed the people.
Our Community
Seeds of Solidarity is based in the nine-town North Quabbin region of Western/Central Massachusetts. It is rich with natural beauty and hardworking people, and one of the poorest regions in the state. Years ago, the heart of the region was a fertile valley that was flooded to create the Quabbin Reservoir as water supply for Boston. This took the most fertile soil and vibrant livelihoods away. A mill economy supported our working class community for years until globalization took its toll. Seven of the nine towns in the North Quabbin area fall in the bottom fifteen percent of per capita incomes of 351 communities in the state. Free and reduced lunch rates have recently risen to an alarmingly high average of 60% in Orange and Athol, the two most populated towns in the region. Disease and health issues are severe and our region is hard hit by hunger and related social ills such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
We are honored to live and work in a region with these wonderful partners doing amazing work and supporting each other to build healthy, strong, resilient communities!
Staff, Board, and Supporters
Seeds of Solidarity Education Center Staff
| Deb Habib | Executive Director |
| Ricky Baruc | Co-founder and Farmer Educator |
| Jacqueline Strauss | Youth Programs |
| Sta Maodzwa | Intern |
| Micky McKinley | Youth Programs and Wisdom Keeper |
| Lynne Rudie | Graphic Design Consultant |
Wonderful and Sage Board of Directors
- Ricky Baruc
- Josh Goldman
- Deb Habib
- Phyllis Labanowski
- Vanessa Lynch
- Tom Montagno
- Kim Tait
- Sandy Vorce
Selected Awards
| Northeast Environmental Education Association Best Program Award | 2007 |
| MassRecycle Institution Recycler Winner (Garlic and Arts Festival) | 2007 |
| Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) Local Hero Award | 2009 |
| River Valley Market Non-Profit Co-op Hero | 2012 |
| Pioneer Valley Transition Town Film Festival | 1st Place, 2012 |
| Greenfield REcorder: 12 Inspirational Woman Leaders (E.D. Deb Habib) | 2012 |
| North Quabbin Community Coalition Barbara Corey Award | 2014 |
| Top Rated Non-Profit by GreatNonProfits.org | 2013, 2014, 2015 |