Why, when the world is in turmoil, am I sowing seeds?

Growing from seed is something I was taught to do by my mum. It’s more than “growing stuff”, it’s completely life affirming. Nature’s magic. I recently heard Andy Cato talking about his wonder at his first seed sowing experience and how it sparked his journey into sustainable farming @wildfarmed I can’t tire from hearing how it inspires people. Seed sowing is comforting, empowering, reassuring, useful, hopeful, proactive, and inspirational. That life can come from a tiny, dried seed is awesome. Food and beauty with the simplest of requirements, soil and water. It’s certainly been perfect “thing to do” in the face of scary global political and economic catastrophe. Privileged to have the space and live in peace, I’ve been feeling incredibly grateful to have seed sowing to do.

March starts the “big push” on sowing seeds. I start in February, with a few longer germinating and particularly hardy varieties, and I will continue to sow seeds into the summer, then start again at the end of summer/autumn. But in March I start hardy annuals, some half hardy annuals, and some perennials. The days are getting longer and (mostly) warmer. I sow into seedblocks at home (where I can put them on heat if necessary) and in (reused) plug trays at the field. It’s a fairly continual process of sowing, watering, potting on the seedlings, shuffling them around to make more space*, hardening them off and getting them outside… repeat.

So tell me about your seed sowing… Any inspirational stories? Any moments of wonder that started a new career? Or hobby? And if you’ve not sown anything before what is stopping you? What help do you need to get started? Because I highly recommend it!

*it doesn’t matter how much space you have, there is never enough space!

-Harriet x

Join me for a seedling tour of our polytunnel over on our Facebook page.