Zero Seed Swap is a Growth Enterprise

Published on: 28 Feb, 2023
Updated on: 6 Mar, 2023

The seed swap at Zero Carbon Guildford in Friary Street took off on Saturday (February 25) with more than 160 people enthusiastically swapping seeds or buying bargains.

Around 160 people attended the first day of the Zero Carbon Guildford seed swap.

Jane Thorp, one of the organisers of the seed swap event, said: “Word is obviously getting round. People were swapping or buying packets of seed for 50p, lots of enthusiasm, new gardeners and old and children as well.

“We had swappers from Haslemere, Slough, Horsley, Byfleet as well as more locally.

“All ages took part in competitions to guess the weight of the pumpkin (6.4kg for those that entered) and guess the number of beans in a jar brought out skills of judgement.”

Zero Carbon Guildford seed swap event (February 2023).

The seed swap was over the two days of the weekend and included the launch of the Guildford Seed Bank.

Jane said: “One of our aims is to grow and save and provide seed adapted to local soils and conditions. This is in contrast to seed companies who source the seed they sell from all around the world, meaning that the parent plants may have grown in very different soils and climates.

Message of support from the Guildford Allotment Society group for the seed swap.

“There is a seed swap area in Zero running for the rest of the year, where people are invited to contribute their own seeds or unwanted half-opened packets of seed to the shelves and swap, or to donate 50p for each packet they take.

“Watch out for similar swapping facilities in Guildford and West Horsley libraries, coming soon.”

Zero Carbon Guildford is calling for gardening groups, allotment societies, schools and businesses who want to get involved with the seed bank or seed swap projects to send and email to guildfordseedbank@gmail.com.