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“Sowing New Seeds / Growing From Your Roots” Celebration
On 17 September 2016 Gloucestershire Organic Gardening Group members and allotment holding friends (from Bisley) took a jolly jaunt to join in the celebration of Garden Organic’s three year research project “Sowing New Seeds / Growing From Your Roots” held at Martineau Gardens Birmingham. Martineau Gardens is a beautiful open growing space in Birmingham, saved from development, and with a history going back to medieval times. It is now a therapy garden and Charitable Trust.
The research focused on allotment plots in the West Midlands where Birmingham City Council supports the biggest supply of allotments of any local authority in the UK with 115 sites containing 7000 plots; 42% of Birmingham residents classify themselves as being from a mixed ethnic origin. Birmingham Parks and Open Spaces policy speci cally supports ‘access to allotment sites for asylum seekers, newly arrived people, and other socially disadvantaged groups”. An initial survey by Coventry University of 31 of these sites recorded 107 participants growing more than 170 exotic food cultivars on 145 plots. 27% of plot holders were ‘black Caribbean’, 8% Asian Indian and 12% of further ethnicities. A very high proportion (55%) of black Caribbean gardeners are over 70 years old.
This original research, led by Garden Organic, and the University of Birmingham, analysed and reviewed survey data collected during interviews with allotment plot holders at 31 sites around the Midlands. Some of the headline ndings were:
• The percentage of growers over 70 was far higher for Caribbean growers than British white growers. This is a clear message that the knowledge for cultivating exotic crops is in danger of being lost as information is not passed on to younger generations.
• The research found that a signi cant proportion (38%) of the exotic crops are grown from self-saved seed. This is important as it indicates that these crops are diversifying and adapting to local conditions.
• That 73% of growers swap seeds with others—another way of increasing crop diversity, and ensuring that rare varieties are grown and not lost.
The day’s event included garden tours, sales of exotic plant produce and three excellent workshops, “Growing Exotic Spices”, “Oral Histories of growers from around the Globe” and “Preserving Produce”. We found the oral histories fascinating. Gardeners described their childhoods in tropical climates, helping
their parents and grandparents grow food for every day (“we hardly ever went to the shop”), and the shock on arriving in a cold and wet climate where the food was – obviously from the comments - indescribably horrible...until they got used to it. (“I was fed baked beans on toast – it was disgusting
– but now I love it”!!). Having an allotment meant they could grow their own vegetables
and spices, because until recently there was simply no alternative. Food from their home countries was not available in shops, especially for the rst post war immigrants. Seeds were sent from ‘back home’, and then these seeds were saved. Some plants began to show local adaptations to the British climate. Special gardening skills and knowledge have been passed on through local practice.
The exotic spices workshop was inspiring. We found it particularly interesting that,
as each spice was discussed, the grower would point out its medicinal qualities.
One gardener joked “Methi (Fenugreek) cures everything... except death”. The awareness of the speci c health bene ts
of the herb or spice in our food, seemed, from this workshop, to be much more deeply integrated into their cultures than ours. Garden Organic is collecting seeds and many are already in the Heritage Seed Library to preserve the genetic diversity found on these allotments. At the end of the workshop those demonstration spice plants that could be were broken up, and pieces given away. We are all now growing curious cuttings on our windowsills!
We all thoroughly enjoyed the two main cooking demonstrations using locally grown ingredients. The Dudhi chana dal subji was easy to make and very tasty. The Dudhi is dif cult to grow here but it can be done.
The young Bangladeshi ‘assistant’ is a
new generation - he made us all laugh by telling us enthusiastically that his favourite recipe was Victoria Sponge with chocolate sauce!! Erica from Jamaica made a delicious pumpkin soup (see picture).
The visit was very useful, especially for Carol, a GOGGS member: “I work with asylum seekers and refugees. The Booklet “Sowing New Seeds – a Guide to Growing unusual crops in the UK” has already been read by a couple of my clients” she said. She and I are now growing molokhia, an edible mallow - a staple of Syrian cooking, to see how it fares in our climate.
We all loved the way that the gardens bring together people from all backgrounds and celebrate diversity in their local area. This comment mirrors Alys Fowler’s introduction to the full report: “That many of these crops are grown on allotments with hugely diverse communities shows how a simple seed can be a bond necessary for good relations. It is vitally important that the seeds, their custodians, and the land that they are grown on are recorded, preserved, shared, and celebrated. Garden Organic’ Sowing New Seeds review is an important piece of work and a wonderful read on the surprising work growing under our noses”.
This review has highlighted the importance of allotments giving people the space to grow and conserve both traditional and exotic crops, and the vital role of exotic crops in the UK’s multicultural society. Critically, the long-term security of allotments is vital for the preservation of this important source of knowledge and resources for food security.
Do look at the full report on GO’s website:
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/ sites/www.gardenorganic.org.uk/ les/sns/ SNSReportFinal.pdf
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sowing- new-seeds
Lesley Greene, GOGGS and NAS Member (Bisley Allotments)
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