Growing Local are delighted to announce that Northmavine Community Development Company (NCDC) are now licensed seed merchants of Shetland Kale Seed!
This license transfer was recently completed, allowing NCDC and Growing Local to purchase kale seeds from local crofters, to then pack and sell both wholesale to local outlets and for us to sell at retail price directly to customers at various events.
To date, we have started officially supplying seed packs to the Plantiecrub at Tingwall (Plantiecrub Garden Centre & Nursery | Facebook), as well as through ‘Growing Local’ at the recent Local Maker’s Market at Hillswick Public Hall. In 2022, we hope to sell this product online in order to provide greater opportunities for people from further afield to have access to Shetland Kale seeds. Proceeds from kale seed packs will go towards the Shetland Kale Seed Growers Network.
The aim of this project is to help to promote the growing of Shetland Kale and protect its unique status by providing growers with more access to kale seed. Additionally, the project provides small income opportunities for local crofters through supplying the collected seed.
To coincide with this, Olach Designs – a knitwear company owned by a very talented local hand knitter – has very kindly proposed that her proceeds from sales of her beautiful ‘Kaleyard Beanie’ (inspired by the colours of Shetland Kale, pictured) will also go towards our Shetland Kale projects. At the current time, her knitwear pattern is available to purchase in Jamiesons of Shetland (Lerwick), or online here:
