The Gaia Foundation Part 2 | Seed Week

Following our feature on The Gaia Foundation, We Feed the World, we continue the conversation by introducing Seed Week by Gaia’s Seed Sovereignty UK & Ireland Programme. This week-long exploration of the smallest agricultural input with the biggest impact, aims to educate and inspire home growers, seasoned gardeners, and budding conservationists alike. Read on for how you can get involved, and a simple way to use seeds in your kitchen.

The humble seed, so small, so full of potential not yet realised. As we all discovered during our first national lockdown, these little seeds are not nearly as humble as we thought. With supermarket shelves left barren and time at home abundant, there was a seed boom here in the UK. You may have experienced the long lines at your local garden centre, but the fact that organisations like the Seed Cooperative saw a 600% growth in ecological seed sales during 2020’s lockdowns remains a remarkable statistic.

Growing something from a seed to your family’s table is appealing in times where food shops are chaotic and unpredictable. More than that, the act of gardening – of nurturing a plant and seeing it flourish – is a wonderful mindfulness exercise with a myriad of benefits in stressful circumstances.

“People crave connection. They want connection with other people and connection with the planet, and growing and saving seed is a way of getting both,” says David Price of the Lincolnshire-based Seed Cooperative.

While seed sales boom and more people are looking to plant for the spring, now is the perfect time to champion the use of local, sustainable seeds across the UK. Enter Seed Week 2021. From the 18th to the 22nd of January, The Gaia Foundation and partners across the UK and Ireland will share stories of growers starting out, of old traditions revived, and of varieties weird and wonderful, as well as where to buy the most sustainable seed on the market as the UK enters yet another period of pandemic lockdown.

“We’re already seeing a huge shift in behaviour when it comes to choosing which seed to plant, and when it comes to seeds, buying local really does matter. By buying seed that has been grown locally, you’re buying seeds that have already adapted to your climate, weather, and growing conditions,” 

...says Sinead Fortune from The Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty UK & Ireland Programme which supports the agro-ecological seed sector.

If you’re interested in the ecological life of seeds, getting involved with the movement, or are simply curious, we recommend visiting Gaia’s dedicated Seed Sovereignty website. It is an invaluable resource filled with practical content alongside local event listings to get connect with your local seed saving community during Seed Week and beyond.

https://www.seedsovereignty.info/

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Snack on Seeds

Seeds are more than just the opportunity for growth; they make an incredible ingredient in many delicious dishes. We can’t get enough of snacking on seed bars – though our recipe for Quick Easy Energy Balls is tough competition. Nutrient-dense, packed with energy, and satisfyingly crunchy, follow the recipe below for the perfect lockdown snack bar.