Seed Swapping in Crediton

NOW in its ninth year, and growing in popularity every year, is the Sustainable Crediton Seed Swap.

This year it will take place from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, February 18 at Crediton’s Old Town Hall.

Sustainable Crediton hope people will attend to try locally saved seeds or heritage seeds and learn about Seed Saving.

The 2017 seed share is hosting "Resource Futures", a community action waste group, who are visiting the seed share to give advice about composting and their exciting new scheme "Compost Doctors", which aims to set up a network of volunteer Compost Doctors.

This year there will be a craft section for children to enjoy and try their hand at making crafts from natural or repurposed materials at the Seed Share.

Stalls will include the Devon Wildlife Trust, Beekeeping, Orchards Live, Herbs and a "Bring and Share" Table (Take your unwanted garden related items such as books (growing/cookery/wildlife), plants, tools etc).

A luscious homemade lunch can be purchased at the event and this can be enjoyed while listening to music by the "Woodsmen", members of the Sustainable Crediton Woodland and Hedgerow Group.

Sustainable Crediton says saving seed from one year to plant the next is a traditional skill, practiced since man began purposely growing food to feed himself.

It says 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 taking along seeds they have saved and taking away other people’s seeds to use.

However, 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. There will be no admission charge, however voluntary donations would be welcomed.

Both vegetable and flower seeds would be welcomed and Sustainable Crediton say it would be helpful if you label packets with the type, variety and date collected e.g. Tomato Moneymaker 2008. Surplus commercial seed packets are also acceptable, up to three years old.

Alan Quick