Okehampton vegetable grower leads effort to boost UK seed production

A vegetable grower based outside of Okehampton is on a mission to address the UK's reliance on imported seeds by growing her own vegetable seeds, aiming to restore genetic diversity and resilience to the country's crops.

Jen Howarth, nearly 39, has been involved in vegetable growing for over a decade and is determined to make a difference in how we source our food.

Jen’s passion for seed production began over 10 years ago when she attended her first seed-saving workshop in Bristol. 

She soon realised how essential it is for the UK to increase its seed production to ensure crops are better adapted to the country’s climate. 

“We have lost a lot of diversity within our seeds, both in terms of varieties and in terms of each seed having less genetic diversity within it,” Jen explains. 

“About 50 per cent of our veg seed is imported, and in the UK we have lost a lot of old varieties and therefore genetic diversity.  We need more UK grown seed that's adapted to our climate  so it's more resilient, and so we're not dependent on imports.”

Jen’s interest in seed saving has grown over the years, and she now works with her partner on their market garden, Hilltown Organics, near Okehampton. 

Jen has made it a priority to save seeds.

“As growing veg commercially is such a full on job for little income, its hard to find the headspace in the summer to try anything new. Seed saving is another skill to requires reading, research and learning from other seed growers and ofcourse learning by doing,” she says.

Last year, Jen joined the Seed Sovereignty training program run by the Gaia Foundation, a course focused on seed production and growing techniques. 

This training provided valuable insight and the opportunity to connect with a network of seed growers and projects, and Jen hopes to continue contributing to the movement. 

“Through the course we tracked their progress, sharing successes and challenges with the group, which is a great way to learn.  The course is also a gateway into a fantastic network of seed growers and opportunities to participate in further seed related projects such as seed growing trials and educational exchanges with farms abroad.  Gaia Foundation do brilliant work around the seed sovereignty movement and have a lot of free resources on their website, including webinars,” she says.

With an eye on the future, Jen is collaborating with other small-scale growers, hoping to build a Southwest England Seed Hub. 

This initiative will offer a shared platform for local seed producers, much like the Welsh Seed Hub supported by the Gaia Foundation, and will provide a way for growers to sell and share seeds, helping to build a more resilient and diverse UK seed supply.

But growing and processing seeds requires proper equipment, which led Jen to reach out to a local community group for help. 

Jen needed a seed cleaner to process the seeds she grows, so she contacted Okehampton Men In Sheds, a community-based project that provides a space for men who may be experiencing loneliness or low mood. 

The group, known for supporting local causes, agreed to build a seed cleaner for Jen. 

Not only did they build the cleaner, but they also offered to create several more, as Jen had connected with other growers in need of the same equipment.

“I put a shout out on a local facebook group to ask if anyone would be willing to take on the job of making a seed cleaner (I'd pay them). Pretty much the only response I got was someone recommending asking Okehampton Men In Sheds, so I did and fortunately they said yes! 

ABOVE: Men's Shed with the new seed cleaner

“They have been great to work with and they're a great project. The first time I visited them, Phil told me stories about the men they had helped which brought a tear to my eye. They are providing a space for men who are struggling with low mood and/or loneliness; they're very friendly and welcoming and a fantastic project for our community,” says Jen. 

The collaboration is already proving fruitful, with Men In Sheds completing the first seed cleaner prototype. 

Jen plans to bring the seed cleaner to the upcoming Okehampton Seed and Plant Swap on March 16, an event she is helping to organise in partnership with Harvest Worker’s Co-op. The event will include a demonstration of the seed cleaner and a chance for local growers to connect, share knowledge, and discuss sustainable growing practices.

Jen is also passionate about raising awareness of the importance of seed diversity.

She is particularly excited by varieties such as the Waley’s pea bean, a crop she finds beautiful and delicious, and the opportunity to save and share these varieties through seed swaps and sales.

“I'm hoping people will come because they're curious, they might not know anything about seeds, and other people will come who know more, and it'll be a space for informal sharing of knowledge. I'm also going to run a short workshop on an introduction to seed saving,” says Jen.

“I love discovering different colours, shapes, textures and flavours of seeds (e.g. beans that are good for drying that aren't available from shops can be so delicious!)”

As Jen continues her work on the farm and with her local community, she is hopeful that the efforts of herself and others will inspire a new generation of growers and help reduce the UK’s dependency on imported vegetable seeds. 

"A lot of people don't connect seeds with the food they eat, and to me it's really eye opening and magical when this connection is made and I want to share my excitement about seeds with as many people as possible and help share what I am learning.”

Jen’s passion for seed sovereignty and her efforts to collaborate with others are helping to drive positive change in both her local community and the wider agricultural industry. 

With the support of Men In Sheds and other like-minded organisations, she is helping to lay the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable future.