At the weekend I went to the seed swap in Hereford for the second time.
This time I met up with some friends and had a great morning gaining lots of seeds to grow over the coming year.
It was great to talk with like minded and passionate people and I was pleased to see it was busy again this year.
There was another great talk put on, this year it was by Adam Alexander (website www.veggingoutwithadam.com) who is a seed hunter and self confessed vegaholic. His talk was really interesting and I loved how each seed in his collection came with a story, he's literally been all round the world collecting seeds from people that have been growing the same vegetables for generations. He also stores all his seeds in the fridge, something I might consider in the future (although I think I will need a dedicated fridge for this or it might drive my wife mad).
I have plans to dig all my parsnips at the weekend and sort out the bests ones to regrow for seed in the spring.
Has anyone else been to a seed swap this year? Anyone else growing on biannuals for seed?
I wish we had these here where I live! To my knowledge we do not. I would go and participate if we did! You lucky duck. :O). I will check once I get going on this farmers market to see if there is one I do not know about. If not maybe we can get something organized!
ReplyDeleteI bet your wife is like honeyman by me... LOL he puts up with all sorts of things in our fridge LOL. I have seeds, I have all sorts of medicinal concoctions, I have ingredients to make other conconctions LOL.. He always ask if he isn't sure about what he is pulling out of the fridge LOL :O).
Lets face it they love us like we are. Bless their little hearts :O)
My wife endures a lot, but I keep telling her I'm worth it!
DeleteI should like a seed swap very much, but to my knowledge, we don't have one near me. I do save some of my seeds to grow from one year to the next, but got lazy a couple years ago and find I need to start over.
ReplyDeleteThat's the trouble a few bad years can really put you behind with it. The guy giving the talk said that properly stored even parsnip seed last four years!
DeleteNo, but I've been handing-out Delicata seeds to everyone I know.
ReplyDeleteThat's another great way of passing seeds on. I do the smae with my friends, force veg seeds or young plants on them!
DeleteNo seed swap round here I'm afraid. I always keep my seeds in the fridge. Other things also get stored in there...until last week there was a dead polecat in the freezer! That's my other half, I don't mind as long as it's well-wrapped, we've had birds in there as well, prior to being stuffed. Not sage & onion I hasten to add....
ReplyDeleteIn the game of weird top trumps I think the dead pole cat wins it for you. Makes seeds and apple scion wood look positivity normal!
Deletesome allotments do seed swaps, also plants in the spring. worth a walk and chat with people on the plots. mostly if they have a club house.
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone who saves their own is generally happy to give seeds away, I know I am. I used to love chatting when we had our old allotment to other plot holders but it sure slowed down how much I could get done!
DeleteI'm a newcomer to your blog, but had to comment because just yesterday I saved seeds before cooking one of the butternut squash I grew last year :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to a seed swap, but I do give seeds and seedlings to friends when I have extra, and often receive some as well.
Welcome to the blog!
DeleteJust be careful with your squash seeds, they're the tarts of the veg world and will cross pollinate with any other squash plant growing nearby! It should still produce an interesting plant but it might not be what you think it is!
I've now got a group of friends that garden as well and it's great to swap seeds and seedlings with them. It's also great if I have something fail I now have a backup!
That must be the seed swap Kirsty went to. Interesting activity. Don't think we have them here in the South though.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I met up with her and some other friends - good company and good seeds!
DeleteI store my seeds in our extra fridge too - some times. I recently needed it for processed pork and chevon, so the seeds had to come out. They come out on other occasions too, such as when I have a surplus of milk. I'm afraid my seeds don't get consistent storage.
ReplyDeleteThe swap sounds great. I would have loved hearing Adam's talk. Harry's right, we don't have that kind of thing in our corner of the world.