New from Devon too - seed/plant swapping?

[Captain Carrot]

Hi,
New from Devon, I have been living on a smallholding with family for a few years, Really looking to see if anyone knows of seed swapping/plant swapping events. I am working on a very limited budget despite working full time. Anyone know of anything , let me know

[MuddyWitch]

Not in Devon so can't be much help to you, but wanted to welcome you to ISH

MW

[Captain Carrot]

Hi too!

[red]

hi welcome

Dvon here too - nice to see so many from the westcountry joiing.. perhaps we should have our own gathering...

re seed swapping - first place i would try is join a local produce association.. same bunch as doing village veg shows etc. they often have seed swaps

[Elizabeth]

I'm just starting out. We hope to have moved in in mid Feb.

Have started to look at what seeds to buy.

Would be happy to share....

Where abouts in Devon are you? I'm in Okehampton.

[Big Al]

Hi,
New from Devon, I have been living on a smallholding with family for a few years, Really looking to see if anyone knows of seed swapping/plant swapping events. I am working on a very limited budget despite working full time. Anyone know of anything , let me know

I'd be up for swapping seeds later in the year when saving seeds for next year is in progress etc but this year I have all I need but non to spare. Again I'm 400 miles away so can't do anything local.

Why not contact your local or parish councils and ask them of any gardening groups in your area. Maybe put a piece in your local letters to the editor on wanting to swap seeds and why you are wanting to do it [environment, cost, saving varieties for future etc] maybe even talk to your neighbours and ask for advice re seed swapping / sowing etc or maybe have a walk round your local allotments. I know around the ones I used to be at there would be a board outside certain allotments with ask for and offered columns so I would offer 2 dozen tomato plants and would like 12 cabage plants etc That way extra seedlings could be grown on for distribution to fellow gardners.

As I said up top, if you are interested in swapping seeds you have saved during the year then re post and we can see if others are interested but I certainly am and all it will cost is the price of a stamp.

hth

Alan

[MuddyWitch]

Try asking on your local freecycle...y'never know

MW

[Captain Carrot]

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice and support, I am saving some seed from things like dill, tomato and runner beans so far but want to do more. I want to increase biodiversity by getting some heratige varieties, something less genetically "pure" if you get my drift.

I am between Exeter and Crediton and I would havethought that there would be some kind of seed swapping close by. Not having a lot of time i would find it hard to set up a seed swap myself but I'd certainly donate a day or two if anyone nearby knew a bit more about what to do.

[Big Al]

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice and support, I am saving some seed from things like dill, tomato and runner beans so far but want to do more. I want to increase biodiversity by getting some heratige varieties, something less genetically "pure" if you get my drift.

I am between Exeter and Crediton and I would havethought that there would be some kind of seed swapping close by. Not having a lot of time i would find it hard to set up a seed swap myself but I'd certainly donate a day or two if anyone nearby knew a bit more about what to do.

Years ago I was in the Henry doubleday reasearch thingy that had the ryton organic gardens. They had a seed heritage programme where for a subscription you could get a list of seeds they had and you could pick, I think 6 packs of seeds to grow on.

I don't know if it's still gowing but there are a lot more seed companies now doing very similar things.
http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/heritage.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/ ... ation.food
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/index.php

The last one seems to be the new henry doubleday association.

Also I have no conection or recomendations with these companies.

HTH

Alan

[Millymollymandy]

Hi, I'm a bit too far away but just wanted to say hello and welcome!

[Andy Hamilton]

It would be good to organise a proper seed swap perhaps in Feb/march time. Hmm will have to think on how that will be best organised.

Welcome to selfsufficientish.

[Big Al]

It would be good to organise a proper seed swap perhaps in Feb/march time. Hmm will have to think on how that will be best organised.

Welcome to selfsufficientish.

Andy,

I've done similar things to this with candles and home made body products / cosmetics. It was designed on a limited number of participants for the first time. It was limited to 10 people so each person sent 9 items in a box to me with £5 for postage.The postage would need to cover the return cost to you but a set amount would need to be agreed to include the odd replacement package so that the distributor wasn't out of pocket etc. I then repacked each box with 9 items and sent them all out again. The upshot of this was that you got 9 products returned to you and the 10th was your own candle / cosmetic.

The reason this was limited to 10 was the size / bulky nature / weight of the items but with seeds it would probably be a simple case of sending seeds and some postage in a jiffy bag to a nominated person.....

they would then split the seeds up acordingly and ship them out again. Using jiffy bags would cost more to post than an envelope as it would be a small packet but it avoids crushing and if someone sends broad beans then these would not go through a thin letter slot where as onion seeds would and thus postage would be different. Also in one jiffy bag all of the seeds could go in one shot.
One thing to look at is that you may have to set up a seed swap or seed coop etc to get around the european seed selling rules etc.

HTH

Big Al

[Odsox]

Hi there Captain Carrot
Are you a fan of Terry Pratchett by any chance ?

[Captain Carrot]

Hi,

not a pratchet fan I am afraid, but I do read books. Not just ones on gardening either.

[Odsox]

Sorry, it's just that Captain Carrot is a recurring character in Terry Pratchett's books.
Good luck.