Seeds and Spring into Spring (first published in West Sussex County Times)

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Did you make it to the Transition Horsham Seed Swap last weekend, at the Kinder Living Home Show? If so, you will know that there was seed available from local allotmenteers, gardeners and Garden Organic … as well as a lot of talk about how things grew last year!

If you missed it – never fear!  Come to the Seed Swap Part 2 at the Spring into Spring event on March 26th at Sussex Green Hub.

Some of the growers are members of the Horsham District Seed Circle, (launched during lockdown 2021.) And Transition Horsham distributed seed from Garden Organic to Seed Circle members and asked them to grow it with as little impact as possible. Each grew different crops, used the produce, then saved some seed to bring back to Seed Swap 2022.

Major Cook’s Beans for example:  Major Cook was a keen gardener, trained at Kew. The beans were originally developed in Southampton in about 1900 by his grandfather, the experimental horticulturalist, Alderman Vokes. They produce pretty purple-violet flowers, followed by a crop of stringless beans with a very fine flavour. We believe it has never been sold – just swapped!

These beans were grown from seed in 2021 by a member of the Seed Circle who then brought their spare seedlings to our Seedling Saturday event. The Community Allotment team planted a couple of seedlings, grew, harvested and ate beans – and also saved seed for this year’s Seed Swap- creating a wonderful circular regenerative sustainable system.

So if you fancy growing Major Cook’s Beans, (or any of the other seeds) – or even joining the Seed Circle for 2022, come and chat with us on March 26th or at any Sussex Green Hub event. And if you plant a few more seeds than you need – why not bring some seedlings along to our Seedling Swap on May 21st? Happy growing!

Full seed details will be on www.transitionhorsham.org.uk learn more here gardenorganic.org.uk

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Spring into Spring Event Saturday March 26th.

  • Sunday 27th March is Mothering Sunday with Easter following along fast, so we are inviting children and adults to come along and make a Mother’s Day or Easter gift.  Join us for a little creative upcycling and planting of easy to grow and popular seeds, vegetables, salads or herbs to take away.
  • We will also be exhibiting the amazing textile work of the Sussex made “Coat of Hopes” which travelled to COP 26 – with its own song!
  • Community fridge for free food
  • Repairs and refills and refreshments

sussexgreenliving.co.uk/spring-into-spring-at-the-sussex-green-hub/

By Alison Marshall of Transition Horsham