Blogs

Sativa Rheinau was founded in 1999 to guarantee a supply of organic seed. Sativa’s main vegetable seed customers are home gardeners, and they work closely with Pro Specie Rara (PSR) to distribute heirloom Swiss varieties. Sativa works with more then 70 seeds enterprises in Switzerland, France, Germany and Italy. Sativa is proud to be one of the seven collaborating companies within the Fintan project.

The country of Georgia lies between the Black and Caspian seas, at the border between Europe and Asia. Also known as the “Gem of the Caucasus”, Georgia occupies the southern reaches of the 1,100 km long Caucasus mountain range. Even though the country is quite small, it is a trekker’s paradise – and it doesn’t matter whether you prefer to …

The Arche Noah Seed Bank is one of Europe’s biggest private collections of cultivated plants, maintaining over 6,000 varieties of rare vegetables and grains – many of them are not found anywhere else. Hundreds of members of Arche Noah act as private “seed savers” by cultivating endangered varieties in their home gardens and taking permanent care of them. They provide …

1. Put the wild rice in a 1 liter mason jar and let it soak in water overnight to bloom; strain and rinse well. 2. De-stem and chop the kale, placing it in a large bowl with 1 teaspoon of sea salt; use your hands to massage the leaves for a few minutes. 3. In a small bowl, make the …

Kokopelli is a non-profit association founded in 1999 by Dominique and Sofy Guillet. The association’s activists work for the liberation of seeds and humus, and the protection of food biodiversity. They bring together all those who wish to preserve the right to freely sow vegetable and cereal seeds. Kokopelli is represented in Belgium, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

Gardening editor Jane Perrone picks the gardening books that should be on your Christmas list. A good book is a vital part of the gardener’s winter survival kit: when you can’t get outside, you can dream big about next year, lose yourself in someone else’s plot or discover new plants from the comfort of your reading chair. Here’s a selection …

Navdanya has a network of seed keepers and organic producers and promotes agriculture sustainable, biodiversity, healthy food systems and food sovereignty along with the defending the rights of small farmers.

To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Regular physical activity can help protect you from serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis. Riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Cycling is a healthy, low-impact exercise …

Tips for collecting seed Pick a healthy and vigorous plant to collect from. Don’t collect too soon – immature seeds will not germinate. Collect on a dry day. Look for seedpods which have changed colour from green to brown. Cut or pick the seedheads and lay them out to dry somewhere warm. If the pods aren’t fully open, then wait …