SARAH – SEED STAR OF THE MONTH – Canberra Seed Savers Cooperative

CSS: Tell us Sarah, how did you come to be a seed saver?
S: From a young age I grew vegetables and fruit trees with my mother. We lived on 5 acres half an hour from Darwin city in the Northern Territory. We grew lots of tropical fruit and vegetables and as I became an adult, my husband and I grew fruit trees and vegetables on 20 acres on the edge of Darwin, 45 minutes from the city. I also studied a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and worked for Parks and Wildlife as a guide. During that time, I learnt about bush tuckers and medicals and continued expanding my knowledge in native foods.

When I was a child, my mum would teach me bush food from what she learnt from her friends when she lived in Katherine, 300km from Darwin. I didn’t do traditional “seed saving” until I joined Canberra Seed Savers. What I did do while living in Darwin was propagating from cuttings or growths on the plants called pups, such as sweet potatoes and pineapples.

CSS: How long have you been involved with the CSS and how did you find us?
S: In the middle of Canberra winter, I moved from tropical Darwin in 2018. I am a keen gardener but felt like a fish-out-of-water trying to grow food in a completely different climate than what I was used to. Early during the pandemic, I was not working and struggling with my mental health. I was suffering from agoraphobia and constant panic attacks. The only time I was not feeling unwell was in the garden. I saw Canberra Seed Savers on Facebook and joined one of the seed swaps and a Seedy Saturday.

CSS: What your role is in CSS?
S: After about a year with Canberra Seed Savers I was successful in my application as a board member. Some of the things I have been involved with the CSS include founder of the native seed group, managing the seed bank, seed packing working bee, networking and managing the seed library at Stromlo Street library, growing seedlings for Seedlings for Community and the Dwarf Tomato Project, and I also create graphics, including updating the CSS logo.

Recently I had to step back from many of my roles as I now work full time. I am still a board member with the role of procurement. I continue volunteering in a more assisting role with markets, workshops, and Seedy Saturdays. Currently I am working on purchasing items for CSS such as a new marquees, chairs and tables for our markets and workshops. I am also organising our stall at Lanyon Homestead Floriade event and assisting with the CSS Spring Seed Swap; both are expected to be the biggest events of the year for CSS.

CSS: What do you love doing in your role at CSS?
S: My favourite thing to do in my role are going to the workshop or events, talking to the public about CSS and catching up with members. I also love doing workshops with Thea who now manages the Native Seed Group. This year has been very cold and gloomy so spending a few hours out in the sun with friends during our out and about events has been a great for my mental health.

CSS: Last but not least, tell us your favourite vegetable to grow/seed to save, and why?

S: Unfortunately, I cannot grow some of my favourite fruit and vegetables that I could grow in the tropics. However, I am really enjoying some great successes with food I’ve never grown or struggled to grow up north. Some success stories including growing kgs of potatoes, and using the 3 sisters method of growing corn, peas and spaghetti squash and cute jack-be-little pumpkins.

Thanks you Sarah, for being such a hardworking and generous member of our community