Garden Organic Membership - Is it worth it?

[jojo2910]

I am semi-interested in joining garden organic, to get access to their heritage seed collection. In particular I am interested in Lancashire Lad peas, but would like to take a look at what else they have. But at £24 a year and with only 6 lots of seeds, I'm not sure if it is worth it for this alone.

Is anyone else a member? Is it worth it and what are the gardens like to visit?

Cheers,

Jojo x

[zazen999]

Not sure where you get those prices from; and you have to join HSL to get any seeds.

Personally, and that's from before I worked for them; it is definitely worth it. But it depends on how you view being a member. I used to visit the gardens enough times to make it break even for just the GO membership and now have enough seeds from saving my HSL seeds [and swapping my extras with people on here] to have grown for me, by brother, 5 schools, an allotment and as several people on here can testify - still have plenty left.

It's more about an ethos than a direct return. Only you can know whether you think it's worth it.

[Jeanied]

I agree with Zazen - I have been a member for ages. I haven't visited the gardens but I enjoy the newsletter - lots of good ideas in there - and I love my little packets of seeds. You can change the ones you order so you build up a bank of self saved varieties - which I find the exciting part. This year I'm going to save my crimson broad beans as I have them in a special pot in the garden so they don't cross.

[Flummery]

I only joined the HSL - I'm not a member of Garden Organic. You can be one without the other. £20 per year and access to seeds you'd never otherwise get. Once you have them yo can save them yourself. You are also helping to preserve seed varieties becasue HSL grows seeds on its own grounds.

[SarzWix]

I'm not a full member of Garden Organic, but I have been a member of the Heritage Seed Library for 4 years and I think it's well worth it. Even though I haven't managed to save seeds from all the varieties I've tried, the money I pay means that HSL can save them for me, so-to-speak. And I have got my own supply of various types of peas and beans that I really love, and wouldn't otherwise have had. My favourite ever leeks ('Early Market') come from HSL too

[chris]

Ah, finally I see what HSL means now.. was waiting for someone to type it out properly so I didn't look daft asking

*googles to find out more info*

[zazen999]

Ah, finally I see what HSL means now.. was waiting for someone to type it out properly so I didn't look daft asking

*googles to find out more info*

It's on the bottom of each of my posts

[piskieinboots]

It's on the bottom of each of my posts

It's rather a large bottom isn't it

[zazen999]

It's rather a large bottom isn't it

Has Wayne been gossiping again?

[Alison]

I originally just joined the HSL which I see as a way of supporting the work they do with a the bonus of some free seeds rather than buying the seeds. I LOVE getting the catalogue and chosing and have managed to get my first choices the past couple of years which is even better. I'm building a decent set of saved seeds off the back of it and will hopefuly have more each year. I also joined Garden Organic this year for the first time but haven't managed to get to any of the gardens yet. As said above I see it as a way of supporting something rather than value for money although you do get discounted products off the GO website if you join.

[jojo2910]

Thank you for your help. I thought you had to be a member of Garden Organic to be a HSL member too. I understand where I went wrong. It does sound like a good idea, whilst I am a new gardener I am keen on growing heritage seeds. Your advice is much appreciated.

[TonyF]

Sorry, I've come to this rather late but here goes. I originally joined Garden Organic way back when it was HDRA and Lawrence Hills was still running it and despite thinking that it was a bit odd, I really was inspired by what he was doing.

I was a member of HDRA/GO for about 6 years and the HSL but this year I let my membership lapse for a number of reasons, some of which are practical - I live in France and I've now joined Kokopelli which I think is actually less glossy and does similar work - but also because I'm sort of fed up with the new high-energy, let's get personalities involved, over fund-raising letters, high salaries etc, that GO has gone in for. I'm also quitly angry about one senior member of the staff there who I was constantly promised would email me but failed to do so - it's unacceptable to treat members in this way.

For me, even if I hadn't joined Kokopelli, I would have dropped out of GO - for me, it's lost its way and become too much like any other glossy charity, whether gardening orientated or not, which is after our money and whilst they do do good work, it's just not for me any more as for me, it's lost the ethos and 'feel' that it was originally set up to do.