Page 16 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

Saving my own seed
ERICA TULLY
My interest in gardening began when I was 3 years old and my uncle Raymond who has been growing and showing vegetables since he was a young boy, presented
me with a packet of seeds and a tiny gardening set. Those tiny seeds grew into huge pumpkins that year and I was the envy of all my friends at the Halloween playschool party.
As I grew older, I spent every spring and summer helping Raymond in his garden. Last year in 2019, when I was nine, I won
a silver cup for the ‘Best Junior Collection’ of vegetables at Tullamore Show. Irish Seed Savers heard about my win and contacted me with a generous offer of a one-year free junior supporter package along with some heritage seeds to grow.
I had always wondered why Raymond ordered packets of seeds instead of saving his own and I had begun saving a stash of pumpkin seeds as my own experiment so it was a delightful coincidence to learn about Irish Seed Savers and the
work they do conserving plant
genetic heritage and protecting
biodiversity as well as providing
education from their base in
Co. Clare.
Erica and Evanna
NVS in 2020 and the summer newsletter provided an interesting diversion from home schooling and once the restrictions
permitted, my family and I visited Scarriff and spent a wonderful day exploring the orchards, gardens and facilities at Irish Seed Savers.
I was busy harvesting my crops before I returned to school in September and I am planning to save some of my own seeds to distribute to friends so they can enjoy
sowing and growing and tasting the delights next year.
My top tip to other kids who are interested in sowing, growing and protecting our precious biodiversity is to consider investing in the junior supporter programme with Irish Seed Savers whereby you sign up to annual membership for a modest fee and receive special benefits such as free seed packets, discounts on heritage apple trees and workshops as well as free entry to events not to mention the bi-annual newsletters and monthly e-zine which are always informative and filled with special gardening tips.
Erica at Irish Seed Savers
Preparing and planting the
garden provided a much-
needed distraction from the
upheaval, anxiety and strain of
the pandemic and favourable
weather allowed me to sow peas, tomatoes, wildflowers, and sunflowers. I also joined the
I had begun saving a stash of pumpkin seeds as my own experiment
Transplanting
Harvesting a crop of Dzintare Lasite tomatoes
Sowing Seeds
16 Simply Vegetables