Seed to Seed (Sowing)

Join a workshop to kick off your growing journey and learn how to grow a crop for seed production at a community scale.

This is the first event of two of a new project for 2025, devised in collaboration by The Wash House Garden, Glasgow Seed Library and Glasgow Community Food Network's Food and Climate Action project.

This is the first event of a new project for 2025, devised in collaboration by The Wash House Garden and Glasgow Seed Library.

The project will focus on a special variety, Desert Spirit – a diverse and beautiful landrace of squash that was originally selected for taste by Wild Mountain Seeds in Colorado. We are growing this squash in honour of Casey Piscura farmer, plant breeder, and community seed saver.

Over the course of the growing season, participants will learn skills related to:

• Sowing and seedling care

• Keeping notes to document the condition of the crop

• Hand and insect pollination

• Landraces and how they are created

• Soil care and plant nutrition

• Roguing and selection

• Harvest and storage of seeds
  

This first practical workshop will introduce the project and involve sowing and inoculating squash seeds. At the end of the growing season, a second event will include a community meal and harvest celebration.

Some of the squash seeds will be deposited in Glasgow Seed Library for the community to borrow and grow in 2026, and some will be distributed as part of a national crowd breeding initiative led by The Gaia Foundation.

About the organisers

Glasgow Seed Library is a collection of seeds and a community of growers. Throughout the year, we run free workshops, talks and events around seed saving, community growing, food justice and earth care. The library stocks organic and open-pollinated vegetable, herb and flower seeds for everyone to borrow, grow and save. By learning to save and share seed locally, we can nurture unique varieties and adapt our plants to a changing Scottish climate.

The Wash House Garden was borne out of a desire to feel a sense of mutual support and solidarity in a society in which communities have been decimated across the generations, and to grow and eat delicious food that nourished body and soul, soil and planet in spite of our globalised, environmentally damaging, and frankly bland modern food system.

Meg Edwards is a community gardener, artist & facilitator, passionate about seed saving and the prospect of a resilient food system. As Seed Librarian and Grower for the Glasgow Seed Library, she is participating in the Gaia Foundation’s Crowd Breeding project, cultivating genetically diverse populations. With a background in therapeutic horticulture and people-focused work, her values are focused on empowering communities through curiosity, connection, and sustainable food production within shared growing spaces.

Glasgow Community Food Network's Food and Climate Action project, funded by The National Lottery, the Food & Climate Action Project is a five year partnership between Glasgow Eco Trust, St Paul’s Youth Forum, Central and West Integration Network, The Wash House Garden & Urban Roots, and is led by Glasgow Community Food Network. The FCA project aims to co-design alongside communities a kinder, fairer & more resilient food system for Glasgow.

Access information

The Wash House Garden is sloped with rough ground, and may be suitable for off-road wheelchair users. There is a composting toilet on site, with public accessible toilets in a nearby pub around 100m away. Please email satya.dunning@glasgowfood.net for more information or to make an access request.

Getting Here

Closest transport links are: The garden is located a 2 minute walk from bus stops serving buses 61, 240, 255 from the city centre going down Gallowgate. Carntyne train station is a 15 minute walk away.

There is free on-street parking just outside the garden. Bikes can be brought in and stored in the garden.