Seedswap: The Gardener's Guide to Saving and Swapping Seeds

An illustrated introduction to saving seeds—how to harvest seeds from your own garden, set up a seed library to share with your community, and grow plants from your own seed stash. With a directory of plants and easy-to-follow instructions, this is the perfect book for first-time gardeners.

In an exciting introduction to the global seed-swapping movement, passionate seed activist Josie Jeffery explores why we should care about our plant heritage and, most importantly, explains how to do it. With an invaluable directory of all the best seeds to swap and save, Seedswap provides all the tools you need to start your very own growing revolution.

This book covers the what, who, and whys of seed swapping and seed saving. It advises where to start and how to get involved with the worldwide horticultural campaign to "save our seeds." The work of seed activist individuals and groups is highlighted with inspirational tips and tales, and there is insight into the practices of major seed companies and how this has affected seed diversity, as well as how "seed breeding" affects the future of plants. The work of seed collections and seed banks is explored, and advice is given on how to collect, clean, store, preserve, and raise seeds. The second part of the book contains an extensive plant directory, which is full of advice on how to grow plants from "seed to seed."

Contents
Foreword by Alan Philips, Seedy Sunday
Introduction by Andy Jackson, Kew
1. Seed Swapping
2. An Introduction to Seeds
3. The Benefits of Swapping
4. Sourcing and Saving Seeds
5. Seed Banks
6. Create a Seed Bank
7. Raising Seeds
Seed Directory
Seedswap Troubleshooter
Seed Libraries
Glossary
Index

Josie Jeffery is a keen horticulturalist, seed activist and grassroots gardener. She has her own successful business, SeedFreedom, and she is the author of Seedbombs: Going Wild with Flowers (2011).