Sep 12, 2026 · 53 min · 10 segments
Use code **SUSTAIN26** for a 20% discount on the She Grows Veg website. Valid until 31st Dec2026 Kate Cotterill is the co-founder of She Grows Veg, an heirloom seed company empowering people to grow…
Kate CotterillGuest
Raakhee TailorHost
And I had so many questions about heirloom seeds because I see that phrase quite frequently and I've never entirely understood what it means.
I love this idea of It just being something that can be re-harvested without losing any of its properties, without changing type.
But, you know, now that we're in a day where we have hybrid seeds or we have patented seeds, GMO patented seeds.
There's something crazy happening behind the scenes because farmers are losing their rights to save their seeds and exchange their seeds, especially when you're using these patented versions.
And then it means that they get trapped in debt cycles and they're not benefiting in the
And I'd probably separate sort of farming from grow at home, you know, within this discussion.
So in terms of farming, so that the reason things like the F1s and hybrids were ever created were, as you say, so that those farmers have reliable crops that they can harvest and, You know, it's really important.
And the fact that we're importing so much food, it outrages me, to be honest, without delving too far into it.
And, you know, although GMO and actually even hybrids are the exact opposite of what we talk about at Sheba Rose Veg, when you think about it, I mean, I read a really interesting piece in the papers this morning about the fact that there's an important place in the UK that is preserving, it's basically a seed bank and it's preserving every variety and it's testing new or existing varieties for drought tolerance in case we keep on having these hot summers.
And you're right to say it's slightly politicized as well, which is such a shame because some of that work is incredibly important and we must support our farmers.
But what we see as complementary really to buying supermarket veg is taking charge of your own food security by growing some of it yourself at home.
And I had so many questions about heirloom seeds because I see that phrase quite frequently and I've never entirely understood what it means.
I love this idea of It just being something that can be re-harvested without losing any of its properties, without changing type.
But, you know, now that we're in a day where we have hybrid seeds or we have patented seeds, GMO patented seeds.
There's something crazy happening behind the scenes because farmers are losing their rights to save their seeds and exchange their seeds, especially when you're using these patented versions.
And then it means that they get trapped in debt cycles and they're not benefiting in the
And I'd probably separate sort of farming from grow at home, you know, within this discussion.
So in terms of farming, so that the reason things like the F1s and hybrids were ever created were, as you say, so that those farmers have reliable crops that they can harvest and, You know, it's really important.
And the fact that we're importing so much food, it outrages me, to be honest, without delving too far into it.
And, you know, although GMO and actually even hybrids are the exact opposite of what we talk about at Sheba Rose Veg, when you think about it, I mean, I read a really interesting piece in the papers this morning about the fact that there's an important place in the UK that is preserving, it's basically a seed bank and it's preserving every variety and it's testing new or existing varieties for drought tolerance in case we keep on having these hot summers.
And you're right to say it's slightly politicized as well, which is such a shame because some of that work is incredibly important and we must support our farmers.
But what we see as complementary really to buying supermarket veg is taking charge of your own food security by growing some of it yourself at home.
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