High summer is the time reserved for site visits and farm walks, so our seed production trainees can see their learning in action! We were delighted to bring together our northern and southern England groups together, with members of the Wales Seed Hub, for a ‘West Midlands’ seed experience in early July.
Warwick Crop Centre opened its doors to the public for its 75th anniversary and we were treated to an informative tour of their research activities on site – everything from disease resistant carrot trials to automated robotic weed control! However, it was the UK Vegetable Gene Bank held at the centre that was of most interest and colleagues were kind enough to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the means by which they preserve variety traits should their characteristics be needed in the future. 14,000 samples are held in the bank in deep cold store, with some samples decades old. Propagation and duplication of seed stock is carefully managed on site, and trainees saw isolation cages and blow-fly controlled insect pollination in action. Processing of relatively small quantities of seed is done, by and large, using the same type of table-top cleaning as trainees could anticipate using for their chosen specialist portfolio crops but the careful drying and storing was very technical, with strict parameters to ensure viability for years to come.
An overnight stay for the groups provided the first opportunity for trainees to meet in person. It was great to share photos of their different growing sites, and the challenges of a very wet and cold growing season, our reflections on the visit, and of course, some food!
The Heritage Seed Library welcomed us on day two. Touring the outside growing spaces, with the opportunity to ask questions about selection and isolation (amongst other topics) from their resident experts was invaluable learning. We had a demonstration of seed cleaning and processing and indoors, the opportunity to see the drying room, cold store and the extensive and thorough administration systems that ensure seed is great quality, true to type and extended throughout a community of volunteer growers to preserve its story. We also learnt about how the history of varieties is so carefully researched and pieced together from archived seed catalogues and the fond memories of those that donate, and how varieties are established as ‘distinct, uniform and stable’ before they are added to the stores. The Heritage Seed Library occupies a much smaller site than Warwick Crop Centre with a different approach, but there are definite parallels in seed growing and saving techniques and many lessons to take forward for our trainees’ seed practices. There followed much chatter in the beautiful on-site gardens about personal ambitions and aspirations, together with thoughts about the wider issues of seed (and food) sovereignty.
Although some of our group had to leave, those that remained were treated to an impromptu guided tour of Five Acre Community Farm, which sits adjacent to the Heritage Seed Library and Garden Organic HQ. One of our trainees works on site, and it was great to see the possible implications of embedding seed saving into existing operations. It was also a really lovely and sociable way to round off a very enjoyable and informative few days.
With so much to take in, reflections will come over time and learning will be applied for many years. However, it’s been a joyful experience to watch new and supportive friendships emerge both within and between our regional groups – something that continues to build a seed movement secure for the future.
We will shortly open for applications to our 2025 season-long programme of seed production training, beginning in February and delivered mainly online. If you’re interested in finding out more, contact your regional co-ordinator here or follow @thegaiafoundation on Instagram for updates. You may also be interested in our quarterly Seed TV series of specialist learning opportunities, again advertised through the Gaia Foundation social media and on this website.
*We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Warwick Crop Centre and the Heritage Seed Library for their time in supporting us to deliver our training programmes, to the Youth Hostel Association for accommodating our party so comfortably and to Five Acre Community Farm for their guided tour.
More information about the UK Vegetable Gene Bank at Warwick Crop Centre can be found here. More information about the Heritage Seed Library is here. More information about Five Acre Community Farm is here.
