The Division held its first ever spring seed swap this week, encouraging staff to try some new varieties in their gardens and windowsills. Those who already have green fingers kindly donated a wide range of seeds, from hearty winter veg like cabbages, parsnips and swedes to colourful flowers like lupins, sunflowers and corn poppies. We also had a few keen amateurs who took away some seeds to try for the first time, having received a few tips and tricks from the Division's allotmenteers.
Growing your own vegetables and flowers has huge benefits, both to you and your environment.
Home-grown organic vegetables are free from many of the pesticides used in mainstream production, and contain lots of nutrients to support your body. Growing your own saves you money in comparison to expensive supermarket produce, plus homegrown veg tastes much better too!
Not only are flowers hugely important for attracting bees, butterflies and other wildlife, growing things in the garden also helps to reduce your carbon footprint by supplying the environment with more plants to consume the carbon dioxide. Plus they look pretty good too!
If DDAR staff would like to have a go at growing something this year, there is a box of free seeds currently sitting in John Owens 1.033 for you to come and take your pick!