As a programme, our aim is to build a robust seed system in the UK and Ireland, built around principles of agro-ecology, open pollination and resilience to changing conditions. However, as practitioners ‘in the field’ we also bear witness to the more intangible benefits of seed production – happy people doing joyful things in beautiful spaces!
The Growing to Seed project that’s been running throughout 2024 was an attempt to evidence some of the positive mental wellbeing aspects of seed production. Focusing in the north east of England, and in part kindly supported by the Landworkers’ Alliance ‘Experts in Your Field’ initiative, three groups of local growers were recruited.
People self-referred to Growing to Seed on the basis of their own assessment of their personal mental wellbeing: there were no fixed criteria other than some experience of growing food crops and a recognition that they felt they had some level of challenge within their lives. The expectation was that, as a group, they’d meet fortnightly and follow the same syllabus of learning as the Programme’s year-long training, choosing one crop to grow and follow as their ‘portfolio’ option in a community setting and documenting their journey. 
Fifteen people joined Growing to Seed, with groups in Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Hinderwell, a small rural village on the North Yorkshire coast. As might be expected, the demographic of the groups differed, but almost all reported that they initially felt isolated, with concern for the climate and the frustrations of being alone in the anxiety weighing heavily.
Each session opened with a check-in in which people had an opportunity to speak without interruption about how they were arriving to the day. Check-ins proved to be a really popular and important part of the sessions and often lasted almost the full duration of the time together! They were followed by a session of seed theory and practical outdoor work.
During the course, people were invited to link with the larger online group of trainees at farm walks, site visits, webinars and events. The highlight of the season for most was meeting with the cohorts from the north and south of England regions, and Wales Seed Hub, on a residential visit to Warwick Vegetable Gene Bank and the Heritage Seed Library. Most travelled in a shared minibus and stayed together in the local youth hostel and for some, it was the first time they’d taken time away from their home in many years. The group also visited Lancaster Seed Library and some who were showing an interest in grain, visited Tocketts Mill, a local restored water mill.
Like the online programme, Growing to Seed participants were required to present their portfolios in November, together with the online trainees. Even though some had had failed crops and found the process of documenting their journeys really challenging, all were brave enough to speak about their seed adventures and really enjoyed the opportunity of getting together.
Baseline data was collected from the Growing to Seed group at the start of the project and followed up at the end and compared. Notes were also taken during the sessions and key moments recorded in photographs. Data indicated that mental wellbeing was initially pretty poor, with an average score of 3.5/5 but some as low as 2.5/5. ‘Anxiety’ and coping with the workload were anticipated as challenges; ‘being with likeminded people,’ ‘friendships’ and ‘learning new things’ generated excitement!
Some participants already had significant mental health conditions to the extent that they were taking medication and receiving external support. Some additionally faced life-changing events during their time together, including the death of family members, serious medical diagnoses, and damage to their homes. Together the project aimed to hold space for people so they could receive the help and support of their peers. Only one person left the course, very reluctantly, with the worsening health of both parents as well as her own.
At the end of the project, mental wellbeing had risen to 3.8/5 but the range of scores had narrowed, indicating that those who felt particularly challenged had improved significantly. Given the difficulties people had encountered during the year, this felt like a very positive outcome and anecdotally, everyone was much happier and had developed a network of support that would buffer them from future crises. Interestingly, the group scored seed production specifically as the cause of their mental wellbeing change (as opposed to being part of a group, working outdoors, or being surrounded by nature) as 3.8/5 – the abundance of seed and the capacity to give it away without expectation of returned seemed to be key to this. Growing seed is good for you!
Since completing Growing to Seed, nine people have registered as volunteers at the sites where their learning has taken place. One person is now on a 12 month ‘back to work’ programme having been unemployed for several years. One person has enrolled at college. One person invited everyone to her 60th birthday party (and several attended!), one person arranged a film night, and there is a keenness in the groups to move towards a local seed hub in the coming year. Moreover, everyone has grown a crop from seed to seed and learnt about how to do so well, some people producing enough to share between the groups and with friends and family in their own, beautifully designed packages! 
“That everyone on the course share the same goals and passion, able to pour my heart out about stress and negative issues without any judgement”
“Being part of a group with common purpose”
“It was the feeling of always looking forward to our fortnightly meetings. Also the check-in in the beggining of every meeting.” (sic)
“I have really enjoyed every part of this course. Meeting new people and having the opportunity to chat with others has been beneficial to my mental health. Having a real sense of achievement growing and saving the seeds was also a boost to my well-being. It was great to learn something new and increase knowledge about seeds and different ways of seed saving.”
“The whole team are truly remarkable. I feel as though I’ve become part of a family.”
“I felt very welcome every time I went to the course.”
“I have really enjoyed the course. I also enjoyed meeting new people and sharing experiences”
“Many thanks for this beautifull project bringing people together for a better futur” (sic)
“What a wonderfully supportive group with so much combined knowledge. So interesting talking to others, learning about their perspective on life and sharing common interests.”
With huge thanks to the Growing to Seed participants, to our hosts at Sow Northern, Regeneration of Communities and the Thrutopia Community Collective, and to the Landworkers Alliance ‘Experts in Your Field’ project.
To find out more about this project, please contact Catherine catherine@gaianet.org
