Every year on the first Sunday of February, the city of Brighton & Hove hosts a unique event, one that has become a beloved tradition among green-fingered residents and visitors alike.
It all started in 2001 when a couple from Brighton stumbled upon a seed swap event whilst on holiday in Canada. They were so impressed that they persuaded a group of fellow gardeners to help set up a similar event back home and Seedy Sunday was born.
At the heart of the event is the Seed Swap Table, where seeds can be exchanged, unique heirloom varieties can be discovered, and tips picked up from fellow growers and experts. Over the years the event has grown to include plant stalls, inspiring talks, delicious food, family activities and a much-loved gardener’s question time session.
Seedy Sunday has inspired seed swapping events across the UK, including the neighbouring Seedy Saturday in Lewes, and has helped spread the idea of seed swapping as a way to preserve local food systems and promote ecological sustainability.
The humble, life-sustaining seed
Seeds, the tiny, life-sustaining receptacles of plant life, have been central to our survival and progress for millennia. The cultivation of seeds from wild plants began over 12,000 years ago during the Neolithic Revolution, when humans transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities.
Early experiments in agriculture likely involved wild cereals and pulses such as emmer wheat, barley, lentils and flax.
As people travelled, they carried seeds with them, introducing new crops to different regions. This exchange of seeds, along with the spread of knowledge, contributed to the development of agriculture across the globe.
The culture of seed saving
Over time, humans selected and saved the best seeds, improving crop yields and ensuring the survival of their communities. Seeds were seen as a gift from the earth and passed down through generations, often along with traditional knowledge about how to grow and care for them.
In Europe, peasant farmers exchanged seeds with neighbours and friends, improving crop diversity and resilience as well as fostering community ties.
During World War II, the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign encouraged Britons to grow their own food, transforming private lawns, parks, schools and bits of waste land into ‘Victory Gardens’.
As well as keeping the population fed during wartime rationing, it helped to boost morale and reduce anxiety. The campaign also encouraged gardeners to save seeds from their crops to ensure their own supply and help the nation.
Seeds of change
Today, movements like Seed Satyagraha in India and seed exchange networks in Africa emphasise the importance of seed saving to food security and sovereignty, resisting the growing corporate control of seeds.
Just four companies – Bayer, Corteva, BASF and Syngenta – control half of the world’s seed market, exacerbating the loss of crop diversity and leaving the food system vulnerable to shocks from climate change, conflict, and disease.
Seed saving has never been more crucial for a sustainable and resilient future. As environmental activist, Vandana Shiva said, “Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being.”
Seedy Sunday Brighton is on Sunday 2 February at the Brighton Open Market from 10am to 4pm. See you there!
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