SUSTAINABLE Crediton will hold its annual seed share event, Share, Grow, Eat: Seed Share Day, at the Boniface Centre in Church Lane, Crediton (EX17 2AH) from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, February 28.

More than just seeds however, you are invited to go along and enjoy light lunches, displays by kindred organisations and live music; and of course good company.

Why save and share seed?

Saving seed from one year to plant the next is a traditional skill, practiced since we began sowing and growing food.

Today, seed swapping can:

• Help protect biodiversity and keeps the diversity of locally adapted varieties going.

• Maintain growing skills.

• Get round the National List, which makes it illegal to sell varieties not on the list.

• Seed swaps keep seed making in the garden and out of the laboratory and resists the privatisation of plant genetic material.

• Saving seed and seed swaps introduce you to other local gardeners and help develop a sense of community.

• Very helpfully, saving seed can also can also save you money.

A seed swap works by people bringing seeds they have saved and taking away other people’s seeds to use. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t any seeds to take along though, it is hoped that by next year you will saved some seeds and take them to the next seed swap.

Sustainable Crediton operate on voluntary donations only because it is illegal to sell seeds that are not on the national seed list.

You can take both vegetable and flower seeds.

It would be helpful if packets taken along are labelled with the type, variety and date collected: e.g. Tomato Moneymaker 2025.

You are also welcome to donate surplus commercial seed packets. All seeds should be no more than three years old.