SUSTAINABLE Crediton’s annual seed share saw a long queue at the door of the Boniface Centre before it started on Saturday, February 22, and was busy throughout.

Shelly O-Berg and Susan Taheri of the Growing Well Garden had a stall at the Seed Share. AQ 5247
Shelly O-Berg and Susan Taheri of the Growing Well Garden had a stall at the Seed Share. AQ 5247 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Sustainable Crediton started it in 2009 and it has continued to grow in popularity every year.

Visitors could give and receive saved seeds and heritage seeds and find out about seed saving.

There were a wide variety of local stalls from many organisations and sub-groups of Sustainable Crediton.

The Turning Tides Project stall included imagination logs, chutneys and jelly, garden stakes and pre-orders taken for planters. AQ 5249
The Turning Tides Project stall included imagination logs, chutneys and jelly, garden stakes and pre-orders taken for planters. AQ 5249 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Crediton Food Larder stall, here with Gail Parsons and Alison Orchard where people could take away donated food items, rescued surplus food it had collected. AQ 5254
Crediton Food Larder stall, here with Gail Parsons and Alison Orchard where people could take away donated food items, rescued surplus food it had collected. AQ 5254 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Stalls included Crediton Garden Club, the woodland group, Crediton Food Larder, Devon Wildlife Trust, Swift Boxes, Significant Seams, pollinators and bees, The Turning Tides Project, Orchards Live, Pig Club, People Love Plants, Growing Well Garden, Graham’s Re-cycle-able’s Bicycles, Nature Crafts and many more.

Refreshments included soups and lunches and lots of cake, all served throughout the event.

Graham’s Re-cycle-able’s Bicycles, run by Graham Ley, refurbishes second-hand bicycles for a donation to Devon Air Ambulance. AQ 5260
Graham’s Re-cycle-able’s Bicycles, run by Graham Ley, refurbishes second-hand bicycles for a donation to Devon Air Ambulance. AQ 5260 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Crediton Youth Orchestra members played during the Seed Share. AQ 5270
Crediton Youth Orchestra members played during the Seed Share. AQ 5270 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Members of Crediton Youth Orchestra entertained and everyone enjoyed seeing and hearing some great local talent.

Crediton Food Larder had a stall where people could take away donated food items, essentially rescued surplus food.

Children could make decorated wrapping paper, find out about recycling and everyone could find out about the work of Sustainable Crediton.

Crediton Garden Club had a stall at the Seed Share. AQ 5243
Crediton Garden Club had a stall at the Seed Share. AQ 5243 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Hector Sladen-Jewell and Clare Viner ran the Devon Wildlife Trust stall. AQ 5280
Hector Sladen-Jewell and Clare Viner ran the Devon Wildlife Trust stall. AQ 5280 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

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.

Edward Jackson of Crediton Swifts ran a stall about swifts and had swift boxes available as well as booklets which offered advice. AQ 5295
Edward Jackson of Crediton Swifts ran a stall about swifts and had swift boxes available as well as booklets which offered advice. AQ 5295 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Significant Seams stall was busy with many having-a-go at needle felting. AQ 5284
Significant Seams stall was busy with many having-a-go at needle felting. AQ 5284 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

• 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.