A transition interview with: Dave Fox

1. Who are you, and what group are you representing?

I'm Dave Fox, representing the TC food group and Trumpington Allotment Society. In both capacities I'm helping to organise Trumpington Seedy Sunday on 25th January. I've helped with some Cambridge Carbon Footprint (CCF) projects and am also a software developer and a carer. 

2. What have you enjoyed, and what have you learned, during the last five years, as part of working with these groups?

Finding fresh young energy supporting old green ideas, starting with a petition for more allotments that we presented to the City Council. Our allotment site continues to improve: it now has many tenants on small plots, a community polytunnel, well-used chicken plots and the neighbouring orchard. The allotment society is very sociable and runs regular community events.I have gained the confidence to teach growing skills and to use social media effectively. I have especially enjoyed seeing the TC website & bulletin develop. Both are very accessible and effective. I hope I've learned how to work more effectively in groups - for an only child, this is a lifelong education! Also CCF's Carbon Conversations course was great, it particularly motivated me to reduce my home's energy consumption.

3. What are you looking forward to for the next year?

Trumpington Seedy Sunday on 25th January, of course! We've got a special pre-release preview of the Gaia Foundation's new film Seeds of Justice, an interesting speaker and the usual bonanza of saved and surplus seeds. To be followed by a perfectly wonderful growing season ... you shouldn't be a gardener unless you're an optimist :)

4. What question should I have asked you?

"So why save and swap seeds?"

• It keeps a diversity of locally adapted varieties alive and helps protect biodiversity.
• It resists the privatisation of plant genetic material.
• It keeps seed making in the garden and out of the laboratory.
• It gets round the counter-productive aspects of the National List (of varieties which can be marketed).
• It resists control by multinationals (the threat of restrictive EU regulations has just resurfaced).
• It saves you money through sustainable practices: appropriate varieties, local knowledge.