Over on the Wintersowing forum we have an annual Newbie Seed Give-away that one very dedicated poster organizes on her own. It's called the Newbie Seed Project and it's done by Bakemom (Karen). If anyone from your group sends in an envelope, mailing address and stamps, she'll send back a package of 15 or more types of seeds. She'd welcome the donation of whatever seeds you have to spare, and she turns them around and gives them to others. She is accepting seeds donations at this point, and will start accepting requests sometime soon. She sends out whatever she has and doesn't take any requests for specific seeds because she sends out to over 300 people each year. MIght be just what your group could use. Wintersowing is a great method to check out, too, by the way. Martha

Hello Bev and all, Thanks for your great advice, especially the suggested varieties. I'll be sure to share it with all the people involved. I will absolutely be at that Seedy Saturday. My information regarding London Community Gardens is the plots must be rented. The core of the initiative is 'food for all' and as the Crouch community is comprised of a low-income demographic, we are currently exploring other avenues and methodologies. Still a great resource, thank you. This idea was just sparked about a week ago by a conversation between my supervisor, a patron, and myself. All programing funds for this fiscal year are already accounted for, but my supervisor is working hard to attempt to secure some funding - which will probably go to the cost of building the garden itself, should we get approval. For right now our seed capital (pardon the pun) is what Crouch staff and community members have generously donated. Some of the more experienced gardeners in the area have impressed upon me seeds should have been started already, so I admit I'm going in enthusiastic but clumsy, with some sense of urgency. I apologize for the poor etiquette, and can only hope to redeem my faux pas by offering to reciprocate next year if all goes well. As we don't have a web page yet (but great idea, Bev!) I'll tell interested parties a bit more about what the plan is so far: We currently have approval to set up seed stations for people in the community to come and plant seeds in newspaper pots the kids have made. They can then take them home to sprout. (This idea was researched on the yougrowgirl.com blog and newspaper pots were found on ehow.com.) I just got a donation of soil this evening, so the first seed station will be tomorrow! We are in the process of getting approval to run a donated grow light in the corner of the library. We will then run kids programs where they can plant the seeds and care for them. We'll have an educational component with book displays by the unit. In mid-May they can take them home or leave them at the library. For the seedlings that are left, we hope to have approval for a free garden. Then we could run programs to plant and care for it. If we are not able to start the free garden, then the seedlings will be given away at the annual Crouch Plant Exchange to people in the community on May 15. During this time, the Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre is co-ordinating the efforts of the Dillabough community garden, and I'll be working with Jacquie Carr from the CNRC to put together information and try coordinate some efforts. At this stage, I'm not sure exactly what these efforts will look like, but Jacquie and I are very excited. Thank you, everyone, for your interest. If anyone is curious or has more ideas to share, please contribute. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Jenna

It would be helpful if you post photos and links to the community garden project.

I hope someone in England can help you. It would be great to help revitalize your area but we are not allowed to send plant material to England. According to the web site below it is illegal without proper paperwork and licensing. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-plants-fruit-vegetables-or-plant-material-to-the-uk You must have a phytosanitary certificate for almost all plants and living parts of plants, including all seeds for planting, entering the UK from third countries. You may also need to register as an importer and pre-notify the plant health authority to import certain regulated plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and other objects from outside the EU.