#seedswap — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #seedswap, aggregated by home.social.
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#ScotlandGrows - #ShetlandKale
by Cairi Balmain
"I want to draw your attention to a rare Scottish heritage vegetable called Shetland #Kail / #Kale. I have been eating lots of the young leaves recently and wanted to share my love of this not so commonly known vegetable, its history, why it’s so special, and why it should be a staple in Scottish vegetable gardens.
What is Shetland Kale?
Shetland Kale is one of the most productive crops grown in Shetland and officially is classified as a #cabbage. Traditionally, in Shetland the hearts were eaten like a normal cabbage, while the leaves were given to the cattle and this still continues on some #crofts today. I like to eat the young leaves as it is a waste letting them go tough when you do not have cattle to feed! When they are small and tender, the leaves taste nice and peppery and go very well with other types of kale in meals. I like to make kale crisps in the dehydrator or oven.
What is Its History?
Shetland Kale is the oldest known Scottish variety and has been grown in Shetland since the 17th century. Before the era of cheap oil, all #ShetlandCrofts grew crops including #oats, #bere, #neeps, #potatoes, and Shetland Kale. Due to the challenges of the weather in Shetland, seeds were sown in #PlantieCrubs: circular stone walled enclosures where the plants were protected from wind, frost, rabbits, and grazing animals. The seeds were grown successfully here, then were transplanted into kail yards, also made with stone walls to protect them from the near constant wind! There are still many ruined #KailYards visible in the islands, not used any more but part of the landscape heritage of Shetland.
Why Does it Need Saving?
Shetland Kale has been registered as a #ConservationVariety due to its decline in usage over the past thirty years, and until recently the seed’s survival was dependent on local crofters saving their seed and passing it on. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence of people wanting to grow the heritage seed. Shetland Kale Seed Producers Network has recently released seed that I bought from Planticrub, the local garden centre in Shetland. You can find information on Shetland Kale and where to buy it through the Shetland Kale Growers Seed Network. You also might be lucky and find it in a local #SeedSwap #SeedLibrary or meet.
How to Grow
Since not many people have, or have need of, a stone polycrub these days, sow the seeds like normal brassicas inside the house or greenhouse in March/April. Plant out with the other kale, cabbages, and broccoli in late April/early May and harden off in the usual manner. You can also grow them with successive sowings through the Spring and Summer to keep a constant supply. Shetland Kale takes up a lot of space, so space the plants well or they will take over!
I like to harvest a few leaves at a time off each plant when they are young and tender and leave the heart to develop into a cabbage to eat in the Winter. It makes a unique #kimchi! Shetland Kale is hardy so will survive the Scottish Winter fine outside. Shetlanders normally leave a few plants to go to seed the second year to see the beautiful yellow flowers come out and to harvest the seed. To save the seed from your own Shetland Kale and help save this heritage seed, harvest the pods when they have turned brown and slightly brittle, place on a cloth to prevent seed loss and thresh the pods by rubbing between the hands. Then store in a cool area."
https://scotlandgrowsmagazine.com/2020/10/22/shetland-kale/
#SolarPunkSunday #Scotland #TraditionalFoods #SeedSaving #EndangeredSpecies #GrowYourOwn #SeedSaving
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#PortlandME - Posting for an early #SolarPunkSunday (event is Saturday, March 21st).
Mar 21 2026 Sat
Saturday, March 21, 2026
11:00am–12:00pmProgram Type: Other
Age Group: Adults (Ages 19+)Event Details
"Calling all seed harvesters and kitchen gardeners! Join us at the #RivertonBranch for our first annual Kitchen Garden Seed Swap. Arrive with any labeled* seeds you'd like to share with your fellow gardeners and leave with what others bring to share. Come for the seeds, stay for the conversation (which we hope will be full of neighbor-to-neighbor tips for beginners and advanced gardeners and seed harvesters alike)!
*Please feel free to drop by the Riverton Branch any time we're open to pick up empty seed packets to fill with your own seeds before bringing them to the swap. If you use your own packets, please make sure to include the following information:
- Seed Type
- Date Collected
- Growing Notes (optional)
- Your name or initials (optional)Also welcome at the swap are any seed-starting or gardening supplies in good condition that you would like to re-home. Any items left over at the end of the swap will be considered for our #LibraryOfThings or donated.
Leftover seeds will be used to seed our new Riverton Branch Seed Library."
Source:
https://portlandme.librarycalendar.com/event/kitchen-garden-seed-swap-9960#MaineLibraries #SeedSwaps #BuildingCommunity #PortlandPublicLibrary #PPL #RivertonBranch #SeedLibraries #GardeningForPollinators #SeedExchange #SwapDontBuy #CircularEconomy #GardenToolsSwap
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3rd Annual #SouthGeorgia #SeedSwap
Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 (11 AM to 2:30 PM)
"2026 is a monumental year... a year to embrace our past, and to cultivate a connection with our agrarian heritage and our community. We’re excited to announce that we will again be hosting the South Georgia Seed Swap at #GeneralCoffeeStatePark! Rain or shine join us February 28th!
Meet at the #RelihanMuseumAndNatureCenter. We encourage all who plan to join us to bring some #NonGMO, #heirloom, or #NativeSeeds to swap with others in attendance. If you have old local varieties we especially hope you'll attend and share!
Presentations on heirloom seeds and seed saving will take place throughout the event. There will be tables, chairs, and plenty of good conversation. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a novice, this is a wonderful learning event.
Admission: FREE
Standard parking fee required
Event Phone: 912-384-7082 "#SolarPunkSunday #Georgia #Seedsharing #GrowYourOwn #HeirloomSeeds #NonGMOSeeds #SharingKnowledge #BuildingCommunity
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If you're in Cambridgeshire or Bedfordshire (near St. Neots basically), you might enjoy this seed/plant swap I have arranged: https://fb.me/e/EF3X5gOH
#SeedSwap
#Gardening
#Allotment
#PlantSwap
#PlantSwapUK
#SeedExchange
#GardeningUK
#Cambridgeshire
#StNeots