Be a seed stewards - an act of rebellion

Seeds are living archives. Every variety that disappears takes with it a set of characteristics adapted over generations to specific soils, climates, and conditions — traits that can't be recreated once they're gone. In a changing climate, local seed sovereignty isn't a romantic idea: it's a practical form of resilience.

Greener Huntly is recruiting seed stewards — volunteers who will help us collect, save, and share seeds of locally relevant herbs, vegetables, and wildflowers. The work is not complicated, but it is careful. It involves knowing when a plant is ready to seed, how to harvest and dry seeds properly, and how to store them so they remain viable.

This year, we are focusing on developing a training programme for seed stewards, and we want that programme to be co-designed with the volunteers who will be using it. That means we're looking for people to get involved now — before the programme is finished — so that the content reflects what's actually useful to learn rather than what someone else decided you should know.

You don't need prior experience in seed saving to join. You need curiosity, patience, and an interest in how plants reproduce. We'll be working particularly with species suited to north-east Scotland's conditions and relevant to local food production and ecological restoration.

Our seed stewards will contribute directly to our Seed Libraries, which operate across libraries in Aberdeenshire and provide free seeds to anyone who wants to grow their own food or support local pollinators.

If this sounds like something you'd like to be part of, get in touch through our website or WhatsApp community. We'll be shaping the programme together over the coming months.