Vital Seeds is part of Baddaford Farm, 154 acres of rolling Devon valley in South Devon. We grow on a portion of this land for our seed production, sitting alongside five other independent agroecological growing enterprises collectively named the Baddaford Collective. Within the Baddaford Collective we are given opportunities to collaborate and share knowledge and together create a demonstration of economically and financially viable small scale agriculture alongside medium-scale commercial vegetables grown for Riverford Organics. Together we produce organically certified seeds, herbs, dye plants and natural dyes, perennial vegetables and vegetables.

Our growing site is a lovely south-west facing, sheltered spot in the bottom of the valley with a deep loamy soil. We have five polytunnels and grow on 1/2 acre of outside space for our seed production. Our polytunnels cover another 1/4 acre and allow us to grow crops which need hot and/or dry conditions to produce top quality seed. Some of our outdoor crops like squashes and cabbages are protected by isolation cages to stop cross-pollination. Next to our site is a large reservoir which serves all our water needs and is a perfect place for cooling off on hotter days.

We’re certified organic with the Soil Association, being held to high standards which ensure we work in a way which benefits our local biodiversity and builds soil health. We never use toxic chemicals like herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. We are also members of the Landworker’s Alliance, a union for small scale, agroecological farmers, foresters and land-based workers that campaigns for food sovereignty and works towards a better food and land-use system for all.

All of our varieties are open-pollinated. This is the natural method by which plants breed, it means that each generation is similar to the previous one and evolution and adaptation can occur over time. Anyone can save seed from open-pollinated varieties year after year, unlike F1 hybrids which you cannot save good seed from. Open pollinated seeds are more genetically diverse, resilient to climatic uncertainty and can be bred to adapt to local growing conditions.