A farmer born and raised in the Barra do Touro community, near Serranópolis de Minas, Brazil, Geraldo Gomes Barbosa is a repository of a knowledge about the earth and about overlooked people.

The son of two farmers, Barbosa inherited a folk agricultural tradition that had become less and less common: the distribution of what locals call creole seeds, staple crop seeds—beans, corn, soy and squash—that have been adapted by farmers so they will flourish in each of the country’s many climates and regions. His seeds have allowed farmers to increase their productivity without the use of genetically modified products.

Barbosa’s journey began when he noticed that many of the varieties of squash that he had enjoyed as a child were disappearing. He took it upon himself to collect the seeds of crops grown in his area, to preserve them. Today, he stores over a hundred varieties of creole seeds stored at at his home, in labeled bottles., and distributes them to local farmers.

Barbosa’s knowledge of traditional practices extends beyond seeds. He and his family grow all their own food. They create handicrafts using local techniques and brew homemade liquor from the fruit they harvest. They contribute all their surplus products to the Cooperativa de Agroextrativistas Grande Sertã, the Grande Sertão Agriculture Cooperative, to help the community prosper.

But, one doesn’t have to visit Barbosa’s farm to partake of the traditions he works to keep alive. The farmer and seed collector broadcasts his experiences over the airwaves, from a local radio station, and produces videos demonstrating traditional farming techniques.

THE PATIENCE TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE
But, Believe.Earth did visit him. In person, Barbosa comes across as a patient man. He  enjoys telling stories and proudly displays his many degrees and honors. There are  certificates from the Evangelical church he attends, certificates for beekeeping, a plaque given to him at a music festival, a certificate from Sebrae, a nonprofit devoted to sustainable development, a certificate from a Moscow radio station, and even a document conferring upon him the status of licensed private investigator. Not bad for a guy who had to drop out of school in the second grade.

“I couldn’t study much.” said Barbosa.” “But, by putting in the effort, we can improve ourselves.”

He’s a big fan of the radio, constantly tuned in.

“I learn many things from the radio,” he said. “There are some great shows. Nowadays, people value other stuff, and the radio gets little attention, but I consider it the most important means of communication.”

He likes music, and even enjoys writing his own lyrics. But, he said, he especially cherishes  what radio programs have taught him about agriculture.

“They say we’re keepers of biodiversity,” said Barbosa, “but all we do is treat the environment with love. We don’t hurt that which nurtures the seeds, that which becomes food.”

Still, he won’t listen to just anyone. Barbosa said he might well have given up on his idea if he’d heeded skeptics who’d criticized him when he began planting several different types of crops simultaneously.

“They called me ‘crazy farmer,’” he said, “because they saw many crops together. Later, when they saw the positive results, the same people asked me for my seeds.”

That was a turning point for him, Barbosa said.

“Sometimes, criticism can drive you to improve. We never know what will work before we try. We believed in what we were doing, and it worked. It wasn’t easy getting this far, and it’s not easy to keep going. But, the only losers are those who won’t try anything new to improve their situation.”

Barbosa explained he was referring to small farmers who replicate the practices of large agribusiness firms. He thinks doing so is a big mistake.

“That approach is very poorly suited to the needs of small farmers,” he said. “Its aims are profit and large-scale production. When the small farmers try to imitate the bigger ones, they end up with massive losses. They start working on single crops and forget the need to diversify. They run into problems, insects eating their crops, lost produce. Soon they find themselves mired in debt.”

Today, Barbosa’s work is widely recognized. He has a lot more help than he used to with storing and delivering his seeds.

“The guardian’s work is to employ varied crops,” he said. “That’s our goal. It’s very sad to see a crop disappear forever for lack of seeds. My father and my grandfather lost many species. Seeds are like our family. We care for them, nurture them. They say we’re keepers of biodiversity, but all we do is treat the environment with love. We don’t hurt that which nurtures the seeds, that which becomes food. It’s a wealth that comes from the heart.”

These days, Barbosa has a busy schedule. He’s had to give up the radio show he used to host, becoming an occasional contributor instead. He’s also had to scale back on producing videos that document work similar to his around Brazil.

He gets the most satisfaction, he said, from collaborating with people who share his dreams.

“Students come and visit me, technicians too. We see the same principles have worked for other people. We see people who come from far away to see us. There was someone who came from India and was astonished with our variety. We’re happy to see such joyous reactions. We must value the little things, because those are moments of great importance.”