Press Release from the Organizers
6TH LONDON CHARITY POTATO FAIR AND SEED EXCHANGE
Sunday 25 January, 10am – 4pm
Harris Girls Academy,
Homestall Road, London SE22 0NR.
The countdown’s on for the 6th London Charity Potato Fair. Once something of a starchy event with the slightest whiff of green anorak, six years on it’s become one of the highlights of the London horticultural calendar.
Last year 750 people came to choose from the 100 + varieties of potato, swap seeds and ideas and pick up tips on how to grow the perfect crop. This time, organiser Lindsay Wright expects more than 1000, such is the enthusiasm for growing your own. “We have a real cross section, from people who can’t tell a potato from a cabbage to those who have been growing veg since they could walk,” he explains. “And they travel from far and wide. Northern Ireland is the furthest anyone has come from in person but I have also sent pots to Finland.”
Part of the attraction is the sheer exuberance of the event and the opportunity to buy individual tubers, giving people the chance to be adventurous with what they grow. The seed exchange is another draw, particularly in these times of waste not want not. “It’s not rocket science,” says Lindsay. “Bring some seeds and swap them for something else and if you haven’t got seeds, a donation to Hope and Homes for Children will do the trick.”
Volunteers from local gardening clubs and organisations including Shogg, Lambeth Horticultural Society and Roots & Shoots will be on hand to give advice and answer questions, “I am proud to say that so far no question hasn’t been answered satisfactorily,” says Lindsay.
Snappy garden accessories from wellies to plant pots, unusual and heritage seeds, including older varieties of fruit and vegetables, mushroom spawn and plants will be on sale from specialist suppliers Thomas Etty, Pennard Plants, Alleyn Park Garden Centre, Dulwich Pot & Plant Centre and the Rustic Mushroom Company.
The sixth Charity Potato Fair and Seedy Sunday takes place on Sunday 25 January 2009 from 10.00am – 4.00pm at Harris Girls Academy, Homestall Road, London SE22 0NR.
All profits from the fair will go to the Hope and Homes for Children charity, which works in 13 countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. The work varies from country to country, from closing orphanages in Romania to supporting AIDS orphans in Africa. More details on www.hopeandhomes.org .
Entrance is £1.50; free for under 16s. Gardeners, with or without seeds to swap and non-gardeners are all very welcome. Teas and refreshments are available. For further information visit www.potatofair.org.
Please, Please, Please, can anyone help me? I am an ex-pat living in Ontario, Canada where they grow oodles of different types of potatoes, but non can compare with our British or “new” Channel Islands potatoes. I am desparately trying to obtain some Guernsey or Jesey potato seeds. Can anyone help me, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks in anticipation,
Best Regards,
Jean Worsley
Hi Jean,
You aren’t very clear if you are talking about true potato seeds (TPS) or seed potatoes. In case of the latter, it probably wouldn’t be legal to post them. Most countries don’t allow the importation of potatoes without special permits.
In the case of TPS, they may not be available for these types of potatoes, I’m not sure, and these don’t grow true to type so would probably be more interesting if you were breeding potatoes.
This probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but maybe someone else reading this will have ideas where you can get these in Canada somewhere.
I hope you find them somehow!