Whats next for seed savers and swappers then ?!

 I have been filling envelopes with seed for those of you that reached out through Facebook, email and text and will be chasing you up soon to arrange collection/delivery depending on whats appropriate, I'm updating the web side of things so I can keep people updated with the other projects you may have heard talk about at the seedswap.

Plans to make winnowing and seed cleaning tools, there will be a workshop session  to make a seed cleaner based on the open source plans at real seeds [ https://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html ], this device is excellent for cleaning the chaff, dirt, damaged seed and random unwanted particles seperate from your seed to increase the quality before storing and distributing. 

If anybody fancies coming to a workshop and maybe making one of these devices then get in touch through social media. the device will also be available for demonstration and use by the community so just drop me a message.

Plans to make seed storage and local seed bank for the the safe-guarding of locally adapted seeds, We need to build a reliable stock of seeds that will do well in our local climate and the plan is to make a seed bank and make this available to anybody that wants to grow and save seeds in the community. Forming a local seed bank is very important for access to seeds, particularly those adapted to our local climate and  that are resilient to the extremes of weather, this is fundamental to our continued food security going forward.

We are going to do fundraising to this end, get a seed bank up and running, with seed cleaning and storage facility, and continue to promote seed saving with some workshops, events and seedswaps to keep this moving forward.

Seedy Sunday success

Seedy Sunday went off perfectly, thanks to everybody that came along and chatted seeds, growing and community. A great day with many happy faces, lots of people satisfied with their seed collections, lots of seeds given out and lots of new varieties floating around. Really good turnout.

 

Downloadable guidelines for seed savers

 Our friends at Garden Organic have written extensive guides on how to save seeds from different crops and their guidelines can be downloaded by the following link.

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/seed-saving/seed-saving-guidelines

Seed Swaps are for everyone

For a seed enthusiast like me... Seed Swaps are a great way to share your successes and ideas, and pick up tips for improvement, find out what grows best in the local micro climates and soil types, which plants other growers grow, planting ideas in the area, but don't be put off if you haven't saved any or you don't know what to grow or where to begin because a seed swap is exactly where you want to go to help with these ideas and to get started. Come along whatever your level of experience from farmer to someone who is almost considering a window box , just get involved , there will be something perfect for you to get started on. swapping seeds or plants, getting advice from other growers, bring seeds, plants and questions along.

If anyone has any seed request or ideas of things they'd like to see or get from the seed swap add your questions and requests here on the page and I'll respond and sort something out for you.

seed saver swap 2023

 

Seedy Sunday/Seedy Saturday

Seed Swaps are a great networking event for growers , if you are an allotment holder, gardener, small holder or just starting out there is always something of interest and a great place to meet interesting and like minded folk in your community. The first Seed swap in the UK was 2002 and was inspired by a Seedy Sunday event on Saltspring island ,British Columbia, Canada in 2001. Sharon Rempel organised first Seedy Saturday event in 1990 and the idea has spread around the world with many towns and cities hosting there own events and celebrating seeds and the stories they carry, promoting local biodiversity and increasing food security, promoting the idea of seed sovereignty which is the right of the grower to save, use, exchange and sell his or her own seeds. The primary issue that seed sovereignty seeks to address is the ownership of seeds as a larger majority of seeds are becoming property of several major agricultural/seed corporations.

These events champion the grower and seed saver and increase the diversity and availability of diverse and resilient seeds for all.

 

Heritage Seed Library

 Our seed swap has always been supported by our friends at 'garden organic' heritage seed library, their work to protect, and promote heritage seeds is a major step in protecting the biodiversity of our foods, many varieties have been lost over the years through inadequate monoculture farming practices and economic pressures, the importance of safeguarding biodiverse varieties is not lost on us and we strive to share the mission to improve the situation by carrying forward that which was left behind into our future.