During 15 years of working on community food projects, Catherine Howell noticed something. As well as the biodiversity benefits of saving and sharing seeds, there seemed to be a positive impact on the growers themselves.

To test her hypothesis, Howell set up a pilot project as part of the Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty programme, which she helps to coordinate. Fifteen people who were experiencing challenges with their mental wellbeing took part, meeting fortnightly throughout 2024 in three groups across Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hinderwell. Participants produced a crop of their choice and harvested the seed.

Each session began with a mental health check-in, and at the beginning and end of the course participants were asked to score their mental wellbeing.

Despite many facing significant challenges across the year, the average score had risen by 6%, with the biggest increases in those who had felt lowest initially. One participant’s score went from 2/5 to 4/5, which they attributed to learning something new in a friendly environment.

The project was small and the upticks light. But it’s backed up by a scientific study published by Canadian researchers in December, which found that community seed saving has positive impacts on health and wellbeing.

They said: ‘It’s the seed that’s made the difference.’ It was the feeling of the creation of an abundance

Laurissa Papprill took part. She grew ‘yard long’ beans, which had been a staple in her late mother’s cooking. “I would watch it grow like it was my own baby,” she says. “I always came out of the polytunnels happy.”

Author Kathy Slack, whose new memoir Rough Patch explores how growing vegetables helped her recover from burnout and depression, was unsurprised by the connection. “Sowing a seed is an act of hope,” she says.“Not to be overly dramatic about it, but when you’re wondering whether it’s worth even bothering to stick around any more, planting a seed is like a promise to your future self.”

Howell continues to support the group, and hopes to run another course next year. She asked participants how much the positive change was attributable to growing seed, as opposed to being in the group or being outside. “They said: ‘It’s the seed that’s made the difference.’ It was the feeling of the creation of an abundance,” said Howell.

Read more about how communities are protecting the future of food.

Main image: a seeds-based art workshop was part of the course. Catherine Howell is second from left and Laurissa Papprill third from left. Credit: Sue Loughlin