Friends, there is a new fast on-line process for Pledging varieties. And you can Pledge multiple varieties with one form.
Go to https://osseeds.org/ossi-variety-pledge-form/ .
Fill out the form. Send it. You will receive an immediate confirmation that your variety has been Pledged. Your variety will usually be up on the website Variety/Seed page within a week or two. And we announce your variety in OSSI Update, which is sent to the entire OSSI mailing list.
We have mostly already transitioned to the new process. However, we have not sorted out how to add new breeders names to the master list, so if you are Pledging your first variety you can look it up by variety name, crop, species, or pledging date but not by breeder's name. Bear with us. We'll fix it. We also haven't yet taught the Variety/Seed page program to automatically update the total numbers in each category. There are now more than 600 Pledged varieties.
The criteria for Pledging are all listed in the Affirmations paragraph in the on-line Pledging Agreement form.
I suggest you write your variety description and breeding history for each variety to be pledged before you start filing out the form, as that is what takes time.
You already know all about the new Pledging process if you are on the OSSI mailing list. If you aren't why not? Go to the OSSI website and sign up.
Carol Deppe, Chair,
OSSI Board of Directors
Neat! I kind of remember something from the newsletter but this sounds interesting.
I had a look at it, and it's very straightforward.
I guess the next step is getting to seed saving part of the season, so you have something to pledge or multiply.
I think this is a great step for OSSI. Lots of breeders out there who could freely and easily pledge their work.