New partnership

A nice post to round off 2022! In response to the cost-of-living crisis, we’re delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with what was Lembas Organics in Bridge of Muchalls, and The Haven in Stonehaven community larder.
 
Following his retirement in September, owner Paul has agreed to continue to grow on a small scale to supply the Stonehaven community larder with fresh, local produce in 2023 – One Seed Forward will provide the seeds and seed potatoes for production. We look forward to visiting during the growing season! If you’re a landowner or farmer who would like to be involved in a similar project in your area, please get in touch! 😀
 
Thanks to everyone for their continued support. We’ll be back in early 2023, but until then wishing you all a happy and peaceful time.

Seed Discount

We’re looking forward to 2023 and are already planning lots of seed potato and other seed giveaways!
 
For anyone who might want to buy specific seeds or plants, please take advantage of our discount code (SUGD213K) for use at www.dobies.co.uk (please note this is a mail order company based in Devon, not the garden centre chain which is spelt slightly differently!).
 
You will receive a 40% discount off seeds, and 10% off other ‘live’ products, and it helps raise funds for OSF. Win, win! 😁

Compost – a how-to guide

Our lovely friend and volunteer Adrian, who also happens to be a Master Composter, has written a great ‘How-to Compost’ guide. In it he chats through… why it’s good to make your own compost… how to make compost… what to compost… where to make compost… and what to do with your compost once its ready!  Check it out here.

Get Growing Onions and Garlic

Even although it’s November, you can still Get Growing! Try planting some onions and garlic now, for harvesting in the springtime or early summer. Check out our onion and garlic growing guides!

 

Co-op Community Fund

We’re lucky to have been chosen again for the Co-op Local Community Fund in 2024. 🤩

If you don’t already have a Co-op card you can become a Member by joining online at www.coop.co.uk/membership . It costs £1 to join but (at the same time as raising funds for us) you’ll get weekly money-off offers, and also special member-only discounts. So should be a win-win for both of us!

Once you’ve got your membership, choose One Seed Forward (cause ID: 77483) as the cause you’d like to support. Each time you then shop and swipe or scan your membership card, you’ll be helping to raise funds for us!

You can view our fund-raising page at: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/77483

Thank you! As a voluntary organisation we depend on fund-raising to continue our work – supporting and encouraging all ages to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

A Green Halloween

As an active member of NESCAN (North East of Scotland Climate Action Network) we were delighted to be asked to put together a newsletter with ideas for a greener Halloween. The newsletter is full of great pumpkin, crafting and gardening ideas – you can view or download a copy here.

Launch of Community Garden Training Programme

Bob is pictured with Margaux Lashbrook (Asda Community Champion) at the Bonnymuir Green Food Fair.

We were delighted to launch our new Community Garden training programme at the Bonnymuir Green Food festival on Saturday.

Our first programme will run for 6 weeks in Aberdeen starting in September. This programme will be free to participants thanks to funding from the Asda Foundation. For more information see our Community Garden Training Programme flyer.

Shoebox Garden Competition – School Category Results

The winning school in this years competition is Castle Court School in Dorset, who sent us an amazing 60+  entries, from pupils in years 3 to 5. A huge array of wonderful garden designs all made beautifully, thoughtfully and imaginatively. Brilliant!!

Coming a very close second place was Airyhall School in Aberdeen, with a range of brilliant entries from primary 1 and 2 pupils. An amazing job by everyone taking part!

Congratulations again to the winners and runner-ups, and a HUGE thanks to ALL the children and schools who took part in this years competition. We hope you enjoyed making your gardens – we certainly enjoyed looking at them and are amazed at all the thought and work that’s gone into them. We’re already looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2023!!

Shoebox Garden Competition – Individual Category Results

We are delighted to announce the winner of the ‘Individual’ category of the Garden Shoebox competition is Grace Matheson (age 7). 🤩 Grace’s garden is based on a beach theme and features carrot, nasturtium and lobelia plants – all grown from seed! Grace upcycled lots of things from in and around her house and beach to make the garden, including: lollypop sticks to make the bench, a cotton reel for a table, and sweetie wrappers to make cushions! Brilliant work!

Runners up were: Rosie Gollings (age 10), also with a beach themed garden, and Aiden Campbell (pictured), with his ‘Wild Garden’ inspired by the croft he lives on (featuring chives, and a drawbridge for the animals to get in and out).

We had lots of great entries into the individual competition but there can only be one winner (and 2 runner-ups)! Thanks to all the other children who entered. A great job by everyone – the judges were impressed!

Shoebox Garden 2022

Our annual Shoebox Garden competition is now open. For more details click on the link: Shoebox Garden 2022