Seedy Penpals is go

Our first Seedy Penpals exchange was a clear success. More than 40 people took part and the Seedy Packets shared around were imaginative, generous and thoughtful. Beyond the seeds themselves, new friendships formed and a small online community was born. Many thanks to everyone who joined in, helped organise and contributed packets.

There were a few hiccups and Mel and I are learning from what didn’t run smoothly. Most issues seemed to come from gaps in communication between penpals or misunderstandings about arrangements. The best exchanges were those where penpals emailed or messaged regularly to confirm details and keep each other informed. Given the nature of a penpal scheme, that level of communication made a real difference.

Well done to everyone involved. Below we’ll link to participants’ blogs and share monthly progress updates with future Seedy Cuttings.

My Seedy Packet

At the top of this post is a photo of the thoughtful Seedy Packet I received from Lucy of Offally Good. Her choices were both considerate and timely.

Bee-friendly items

Lucy included several bee-friendly items: seeds suitable for pollinators, a booklet about the Save the Bee campaign from Neal’s Yard, and a test pot of Neal’s Yard honey hand cream. This was particularly apt because we’re preparing a 250-square-metre area of our land to host bees in Top Bar Hives. I’ll write more about that project in the coming weeks.

We’ve also been making our own calendula salve, so the honey hand cream inspired us to try making a honey-infused hand cream and a matching lip balm. I’ll share recipes and results in a future Seedy Cuttings post.

Healing marigolds

The marigold seeds Lucy saved from her garden are especially welcome. We’ll sow them next season and use the flowers to make more balm—OffallyGood Balm could be on the way.

Seeds with family history

Seeds saved from a penpal’s own garden carry a sense of connection. It feels like receiving a small, living piece of someone’s life. Lucy included seeds from her mum’s garden in Lincolnshire—melon, squash and runner beans—which was a particularly touching gesture. We’ll cherish them and hope to save seed to pass on next year.

Kohlrabi

Lucy confessed she’d struggled with kohlrabi, even though she enjoys it. We like kohlrabi raw, cooked or fermented and have had good results with purple varieties before, so the white kohlrabi seeds will be a welcome addition to our beds.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are another excellent choice. They bring bright colour, attract pollinators and are entirely edible—the flowers, leaves and seeds all have a peppery bite. I recently made nasturtium “capers,” so these new varieties will add both flavour and visual interest to the garden.

Overall, we’re delighted with our Seedy Packet and grateful to Lucy for her thoughtfulness. I’ll report back on progress in upcoming Seedy Cuttings posts.

You can add a link to your Seedy Penpals blog posts using the form below. The form will go live from the 31st August 2012.