One hundred and eight local gardeners shared 5,895 packets of seeds this season as part of the Barefoot Herbs seed swap.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 July 2025) – Sharon Costello of Barefoot Herbs has been slowly but incredibly connecting gardeners from across South Africa through a postal seed swap, which has completed its third successful run.
This season has been my third participation with the group of gardeners, so I can vouch for its success personally, having helped sort and pack thousands of seeds for the eager gardening community that took part. Sharon established a WhatsApp group and community forum where eager seed swappers could share the seeds they were looking for, as well as seeds they had to offer. These spaces have gone beyond just seed talk, but are spaces where people connect, share knowledge and inspire fellow gardeners.
Another benefit of this season’s swap was that three charitable beneficiaries were put forward, and thousands more seeds were donated to help inspire gardening, seed saving and food production for communities who need it most.
“When I ran the first seed swap in June 2024, I hoped for 20 participants and there were more than 100. In January, the number nearly doubled, and that’s when I thought we could use this as a platform to help community gardens.
In June 2025, I asked the participants to send in their extra seeds as donations. I am thrilled at the outcome.
Everyone sent in and we were able to help 3 community gardens. No-one should go hungry and, together, we are helping to feed a lot of people. My thanks go to every person who took part and those special ladies who helped sort and pack. Gardeners are awesome people!” – Sharon Costello
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Speaking to some of the participants, it is clear that the desire to grow one’s own food, fill the garden with flowers and celebrate indigenous plants is a growing passion in South Africa.
Karen Kriek joined the swap for the first time this season and loved it.
“I am already excited about the next seed swap! Each participant sent 20 or more packs of seeds or some bulbs. I got a parcel back which included quite a few items from my wishlist. It’s a way to share and receive so many fantastic seeds which are sometimes difficult or pricey to get hold of.”
“It truly was a privilege to be a part of this project…part of something greater, spreading the love by packets of seeds, bringing joy to many, and eventually feeding many others with minimal effort.”
Ra’eesah Manack echoes Karen’s sentiments, sharing the joy of her first swap the previous season.
“My first time, I didn’t have much to share since I didn’t have much of a garden. So I sent in 20 tiny packets of coriander seeds from my spice cupboard. The same kind my granny used to grow every year in her garden. She never called it seed saving; it was just second nature to her. Now I realise it was something gentle and wise. A quiet kind of resilience. Sending those seeds felt like honouring her hands in the soil.
When the return seed swap parcel arrived, I was completely enchanted. I received 20 new varieties in return, each one wrapped with care and community. From rainbow tomatoes to flowers I had never even heard of, it felt like opening a box of future stories. Some of them are already growing, peeking through the soil with the softest little leaves.
What surprised me most was how it shifted my perspective. I used to think gardening was something you needed space for, but now I see how a tiny home garden, even if it is all planted in containers, can feed you in more ways than one. Not just food, but calm, curiosity, and connection.”
For each participant, the enchantment of getting a pack of seeds goes beyond just unboxing a mystery bag of gardening delights. It feeds into wanting to be a little more sustainable and having access to varieties of seeds that one might not have access to generally.
Carly Blankevoort added that while self-sufficiency is no walk in the park, having a community makes it easier.
“The seed swap of Sharon’s is a wonderful initiative. The learning between people is also lovely. It may encourage a measure of self-sufficiency amongst people, and of course, food swapping with neighbours is the next step. “
Carly urges those wanting to join to learn about the seeds they share, to avoid any invasive plants from ending up in the swaps. As a gardener, I must agree that the more we know, the more we can share.
Malelala Chai added, saying that while she loves her flowers, getting rare seeds like Aztec Corn is a total delight. She has advice for those who are keen to join (but really, she directs this advice mostly to herself).
“Start collecting and packing as one gets seeds, don’t wait for the last moment”
“When you pack your seeds with ample time on your hands, you can add more info like sowing time, placement, and companion plants. This is my current plan”
Ra’eesah ends to this advice, saying:
“Start where you are, with what you have. Even one herb from your kitchen cupboard can turn into a whole season of beauty. You will be amazed at what grows from something so small, especially when it is shared with love.”
Gardeners are some of the most generous people I have ever met! It fills my heart to be a part of this community, and you can bet I, along with many more, am looking forward to the next seed swap in January 2026. If you are keen to join, you can find out more via the Barefoot Herbs Facebook page.
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