Get stuck in with seed saving

Always wanted to save seed but don’t know where to start? Interested in gardening and growing, but struggling to get out and about? Want to try something mindful that will connect you with nature? This event is for you!

Help the Fife Seed Library to build our collection by processing the seeds which have been donated to us by local growers.

Join us for a relaxed, indoor, seated session where you can learn all about seed saving for different crops, and get hands on with some of our seeds that are waiting to be sorted. You’ll be able to get involved with whichever parts of the process are interesting to you:

• learn how to sort the seeds from the chaff
• learn about which seeds need to be dried or pre-processed before storing
• measure out seeds and put them into our compostable seed packets
• write labels for the packets of saved seeds

No experience needed! Even if you have never gardened or thought about seed saving before, everyone is welcome.

Light refreshments will be provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own lunch or snacks.

This event is part of the Fife Climate Festival and has been generously funded by FCCAN!

Why do we save seed?

Save seed – save money!

Save seed – save the world.

Plants adapt to their environment, which means with each generation grown in the same place, they get more resilient to the peculiarities of our local FIfe climate – adapting to soil conditions, weather, and local pests and diseases. Saving seeds from the strongest plants to sow again next year means you can improve your crops year-on-year. This is something we miss when we buy seeds from shops and garden centres that have been cultivated in other countries, or inbred to produce particular yields (as with F1 hybrid seeds).

Seed saving is also an act of resistance against the corporate capture of our global food systems. Break out from the cycle of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, and cultative naturally resilient locally-adapted food and flowers. It’s a small action that anyone can take – even if you don’t have a garden – that opens the door to big change.

What to bring

Just yourself! Optionally, any snacks or drinks you’d like. Any questions you have about saving seed from plants that you (or family, friends and neighbours) are growing.

If you have saved or spare seed you’d like to add to the library, please bring that along too!

Access

This event is indoors in the EATS Hub, on the ground floor, through an accessible entrance. We will be seated around tables, with plenty of space to get up and move about or to sit away from others.

There are accessible toilets in the same space as the event.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to enable your participation.