IT will soon be time again for the ever popular Sustainable Crediton Seed share – SHARE, GROW, EAT.

Last year the seed share took a step up and moved to the larger space of the Boniface Centre in Crediton and this proved very successful.

This year the seed share is on Saturday, March 16, from 11am until 2pm in the Boniface Centre.

In addition to the seeds, there will be even more on offer this year.

Regular stallholders will be joined by some new local organisations including Crediton Community Bookshop, Shillingford Farm School, The Turning Tides Project,  the Living Library project and Vital Organic Seeds.

This year there will be an exhibition on Bees and pollinators as Sustainable Crediton hope to begin a project on saving and improving habitat in the Crediton area for these endangered species.

A seed swap works by people taking along 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.

All are invited and there is no charge, voluntary donations only.

Good reasons for saving seed include:

? Helps protect biodiversity and keeps the diversity of locally adapted varieties going

? Maintains growing skills

? Gets round the National List, which makes it illegal to sell varieties not on the list. This is why we do not charge for the seeds.

? 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.

Those attending can take along vegetable, herb and flower seeds.

Sustainable Crediton say it would be helpful if you label packets with the type, variety and date collected eg. Tomato Moneymaker 2008. Surplus commercial seed packets are also acceptable. Though many older seeds are still viable, please take seeds that are three years or less years old.

The seed share is a much-enjoyed social occasion so go and enjoy lunches made from surplus food donated by local businesses and enjoy the music of local band, “The Woodmen”.