BUDE Friends of the Earth (FOE) held its first seed swap on the afternoon of Saturday, February 15 in association with Bude Artisan Market at the Methodist Hall at Neetside.

Organiser and Bude FOE co-ordinator Rob Meredith has held these events for many years in North Devon but felt that this event naturally blends in with other projects that Bude FOE have initiated in recent years, such as the community orchard, also at Neetside.

Until recently, it was common practice amongst growers and gardeners to save seed of locally adapted vegetables and fruits, which could cope with regional climates, soils and diseases. But as this practice has declined, many vegetable varieties have simply become rare or extinct.

Seed swaps have arisen as a response to this problem to maintain heritage varieties that might otherwise become unavailable. The aim is to distribute these open-pollinated seeds freely to local gardeners to preserve local and regional varieties and to encourage growers to save seed from them and return with them to the seed swap in the following year.

Indeed, Rob recovered a fabulous variety of tomato this year, returned to him by a grower who had taken the seed from a swap eight years previously. It is this common sharing and maintaining of seed varieties that ensures their long-term survival. “With seeds, it really pays to cast your bread upon the waters,” said Rob.

The event was well attended by at least 50 people, despite the poor weather conditions, and some rare varieties of perennial leek and onion plants were among the star offerings on the day. Donations given will go towards buying more native wildflower seed to maintain the various projects that comprise the Biodiversity Trail that Bude FOE have created around central Bude in recent years, culminating in the planting of trees, bulbs and shrubs in the Crescent car park bed last November.

It is hoped that this event, along with the community orchard wassail and the apple day, will become part of the group’s annual activities.

Thanks have also been extended to Tamar Organics and the Lost Gardens of Heligan for their generous donations of heritage seed.