Visit to Irish Seed Savers

Ireland

20 Jul

In October 2018 I first visited Irish Seed Savers located in Scariff, Co. Clare to attend a seed saving workshop. I was at the end of my first year of vegetable growing in earnest and had had been reading up on pollination and was really interested in seed saving to learn how to save my own. I found out about Irish seed savers through an online search for Irish seeds. It was a rainy and stormy day I headed west to learn and discover about seeds, it’s a drive commited to memory! At the workshop we learnt the difference between open pollianted seeds and F1 hybrids, something I’d found confusing until that point. And most importantly learnt the importance of saving seeds, of seeds that are adapted to the Irish climate, of saving seed heritage, a heritage that can be shared around the world. And not to mention the feeling of community of being in a room with other people who are all so passionate about the same things you are!

Some of Irish Seed Savers Seeds, a new book on self-sufficiency and a calendar.

So who are Irish Seed Savers? In their own words : Our main objective is to protect Ireland’s food crop heritage for future generations. Our work focuses on the conservation of heirloom vegetable seeds and Irish heritage apple trees. In recent years we have expanded the scope of our work to include crop varieties from all over the world that are suitable for Ireland’s unique growing conditions.

Irish Seed Savers Association maintains the country’s only public seed bank, with over 600 non-commercially available varieties of seed. We also house the national collection of Irish heritage apple trees in our orchards, with over 180+ unique varieties.

Founded by Anita Hayes on a small farm in Co. Carlow in 1991, Irish Seed Savers exists as a living testimony to the richness and wealth of the agricultural legacy of our ancestors.

In 1996 the project moved to its present site in Scariff and in 1997 a FAS community employment scheme, developed by Bridget Carlin, secured a site and employment for many staff. You can find out more on their website. https://irishseedsavers.ie/

One of the polytunnels where vegetables or flowers are grown for seeds.

My first visit the weather and time schedule didn’t allow for a walk so I went back again in February with my family. It was Winter so a lot of beds were under cover crops but it is always great to see farms year round and not just in high summer!

If you are interested in seed saving and importance of it I really recommend the movie, Seeds: The Untold Story, which you can find here https://www.seedthemovie.com/ . On this weeks visit it was 29 degrees celsuis so absolutely roasting and everything in the Farm looked glorious.

Incredible view over Anita’s Garden over the countryside.

Another polytunnel jam packed with flowers and seeds. Everything is grown to perfection!

If you get a chance I can’t recommend a visit enough! Its situated in Scariff which is a beautiful picturesque town in Co. Clare. And you buy seeds on their website and there’s also an option to become a supporter of them and the incredible work they do. What I take away everytime I visit is the passion that goes into the work, the connection and respect to the earth. And a sense of the great importance of the work they do, and the commitment of all involved to save these seeds for all of us.

Thank you for taking the time to read!

Maria