Portobello Seed Share supports sustainable growing with the aim of developing a seed bank of local resilient seed to be saved and shared.
We invite you to visit Portobello Library to browse, borrow or add your homegrown seed to the collection box. When borrowing seed please list in the log book the seeds you are taking, using the seed packets to store the seeds. We encourage you to then return seed once the plants have matured.
Although the Seed Share is primarily about storing and distributing open-pollinated seed, we welcome too shop bought seed. Rather than logging these into our logbook we ask you just to add them to the collection box keeping them in their shop bought packets.
This seed project has been developed out of our recent community project Remedy, a coastal medicinal plant photo-arts project working with participants from Access to Industry, led by artist Zoe Hamill and Herbal Scotland exploring scrubland areas at Seafield.
Recent Seed Share Events:
April 2026:
Childrens’ drop-in at Portobello Library, creating cyanotypes from locally collected plants (led by artist Zoe Hamill).
Portobello Seed Swap at Portobello Library with Herbal Scotland. A chance to exchange seeds and learn about ways of working with seeds in herbal medicine.
We plan to programme a series of seed swaps, talks, walks and workshops involving a number of artists, ecologists and growers as the project evolves and more seed is collected. Please email us if you have suggestions for future events or would like to get more involved.
Created in partnership with Portobello Library and funded by Creative Scotland and Awards for All.
Image: Thanks to Hussein (Access to Industry participant)