While community gardening is a fairly emergent research area in terms of actual food production and applications within the agri-food system, there is very little research available on community seedbanks in Europe. The Community Seedbanks organization is a unique resource that maps the locations of community seedbanks in Europe from which native and local seed varieties can be obtained.
Utilizing native cultivars as part of community gardens means that many of the seeds will be well suited to the region, and can be disease resistant, requiring less inputs for growing. Additionally, these seedbanks are incredible resources for conservation through the careful collection and maintenance of heritage varieties. A great example of this conservation is Ireland’s own Irish Seed Savers, which is working hard to promulgate heritage Apple varieties. Irish Seed Savers has DNA confirmed 180 different heritage varieties of apple trees, and provides nursery trees throughout the country.
