The Community Seedling Program distributes volunteer-grown free seedlings to Canberrans in need. CSS volunteers grow popular herb and vegetable seedlings, which are then given to local organisations to pass on to their beneficiaries (or put in their own community gardens). The program has run successfully for the last four years and has grown and distributed close to 20,000 seedlings in that time. Each season, approximately 25 Canberrans volunteer to grow seedlings, and an amazing coordinator plans the season and keeps the program running through regular communication and coordination of growers and recipient organisations.
The Program is on hiatus for Spring-Summer 2025/26 as we search for a new program coordinator. We want to acknowledge and give thanks for the ongoing involvement and support of so many committed and generous volunteers who have given up many hours each season to nurture seedlings to give away to their fellow Canberrans. We know that the program has made a huge difference for many people.
If you are interested in finding out more about coordinating the Program for future years, please contact us at hello at canberraseedsavers dot org dot au for some more information and a chat.
How It All Began
This initiative began when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. We repurposed an ACT Government grant, which had initially been granted to run seed saving workshops in Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) gardens, and instead set up a network of volunteers to grow food seedlings at home with CSS seed. These seedlings were then collected and donated to the Canberra Relief Network (CRN), a central food bank set up by the ACT Government in 2020. During the height of the pandemic, we donated thousands of seedlings with the aim of helping Canberrans have a no-cost opportunity to try growing a little bit of food at home. The seedlings ranged from pots of herbs to tomatoes and zucchinis.
The program was so popular – both with volunteer growers and those who received the seedlings – that CSS decided to continue the Program after the period of lockdowns had lifted. We partnered with selected school gardens, community support organisations and food banks to get seedlings to Canberrans in need through their existing support networks. Although primarily supplying food pantries, the Program has also supplied refugee/migrant and mental health organisations, community centres, and schools.
Behind the Scenes
Although the CSP was started in a flurry at the beginning of the pandemic, in 2021 coordination of the Program was taken over by the amazing Rosemary Castle, who has been integral in making the project a success. Rosemary implemented the strategy for working with a range of organisations following the pandemic, and is responsible for the development of the extensive network of recipient organisations, the recruitment, support and encouragement of volunteer growers and the planning, and coordination and communication. After 4 years of making this program the amazing success that it has become, Rosemary is taking a well-deserved break. Thank you Rosemary!
Sponsors
The Community Seedling Program is powered by volunteers proudly sponsored by Powell’s Stockfeed (Phillip) who have generously donated locally-made Martins’ Potting Mix and Seed Raising Mix (Yass) for the last three years. We are very grateful to Simon and the team at Powell’s Stockfeed in Phillip for their ongoing support!
In the Media
Seed savers across Australia are supporting their communities during the coronavirus pandemic
Canberra Seed Savers support St John’s Care in Reid