The best kids parties are full of colour, music, games and laughter. A Secret Seed Society children’s party will bring you all this with vegetables as the stars, the heroes, the entertainers. Your guests will leave with a bounce in their step and an excitement for growing and eating vegetables.

“Vegetables are great food for the imagination, the colours, textures, flavours, and processes from growing, to cooking and finally composting.” Ash Perrin, Secret Seed Society Entertainer.

The parties bring to life characters from the Seed City storybooks. If your child has a favourite vegetable or character let us know and we’ll incorporate it into the show. if you want a special theme just let us know; Pirate Parsnips, Ghoulish Gourds, Princess and the Pea. Remember Cinderella went to the ball in a pumpkin!

Sugar coated pink cup cakes and over the top goodie bags are out, London’s best children’s entertainers are ready to pick up their box of vegetable tricks and visit your party! The parties are adapted to suit your group. We recommend our parties for 3-9 years old.





We provide party bags and prizes that provide fun and inspiration for all the kids after the party has ended without compromising your eco and ethical standards.

Secret Seed Society has worked to make vegetables more loveable through storybooks, theatre shows and workshops but now you can invite us to your birthday party.
Email fun@secretseedsociety.com with the details of your party and we will let you know if we can make it and give you a quote, or call Amy 07779 080776.
Secret Seed Society kids parties are currently available in London, if you are not London based please contact us to express your interest.
Specs: max 30 kids, 2 hours, space provided / chosen by you.

My containers had grapes in. I try to buy unpackaged fruit but these were a gift.

Re-cycle containers to germinate seeds

Other containers you can use are often sold with cakes in and have a hinged lid.
Mine have some holes in the bottom so before I fill one with compost I line it with newspaper.

It is good to have drainage holes but line with newspaper to prevent the compost going through

Then fill with moist compost and firm gently, this means tap the compost with your fingers flat, you don’t want it to be solid but also you don’t want big air pockets.

Use your fingers to press gently on the compost

Water your compost if it is a little dry. I use a spray as you don’t want it too wet.

Moisten compost with a spray, moist not saturated

Cabbage seeds ready to sow

Can you see the seeds?

A thin layer of compost or vermiculite

Water well again!

Invert the other container to make a mini-green greenhouse.

Make a label for your seedlings.

Babs Beetroot gives us her top tips on growing plants from cuttings.

“Imagine being able to cut a limb off, an arm or a leg, plant it in water and watch a new person grow from it. As a human this sounds crazy. However with some plants you can cut off part of the living stem and with a bit of care and patience you can grow a new plant. While a human would need to go to hospital if they cut an arm or a leg off, if you are careful when taking a cutting from a plant it will remain healthy. I would recommend asking people before you take a cutting from their favourite plant, most people say yes, and then within a year you’ll have your very own.”



Using a Propagator to grow cuttings

Order your Secret Seed Propagator Kit
Make an upcycled propagator from old packaging

• Growing time 2-4 weeks.
• Fill your pots with a light moist seed compost.
• Avoid composts which contain peat, they aren’t good for the environment.
• Scatter seeds densely in each pot.
• For example seeds per 2cm pot: rocket 15, radish 10, peas 4.
• Cover the seeds with compost and firm gently.
• Water well.
• Put on the lid and leave in a sunny place.
• When they are 3-5cm tall cut from the stem.
• To plant more, just sprinkle new seeds on top and cover with compost.

Micro-greens are nutritious and make your cooking look pretty.
Order your Secret Seed Propagator Kit

Diabetic Diva Susan with her latest recipe book.

Diabetic recipes are ‘Healthy’ because they have limited amounts of refined sugars and salts so if you want more healthy recipes take a look at her website.
Remember you don’t have to be diabetic to enjoy Susan’s tasty recipes, in fact eating these healthy feasts can help prevent you becoming diabetic so tuck in!

TWIRLY SPAGHETTI & MINCE SAUCE

A family favourite and so easy to make. Rearing beef has a detrimental effect on the environment but this can be made with vegetable alternatives.The mince can be prepared in a batch and frozen for at least 3 months. Good with jacket potatoes, rice, pasta, mock pizza.

Main ingredient: Mince beef or vegetarian alternative, spaghetti Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves 4:

EQUIPMENT
Chopping board
Sharp knife
Can opener
Measuring spoon
Large saucepan with lid
Wooden spoon

For spaghetti
Measuring jug
Measuring spoon
Medium size saucepan with lid
Spoon for stirring

INGREDIENTS
500g lean ground mince beef
½ sweet pepper, roughly chopped
½ onion roughly chopped
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 jar pasta sauce
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried Italian herbs

METHOD
COOK the mince in a pot stirring with a wooden spoon until it’s brown in colour and no pink bits remain. ADD the onion and peppers and cook for another 3 minutes
NEXT add all the other ingredients and let meat mixture cook until the sauce starts to bubble. TURN the heat down to low and let this cook for at least 20 minutes
SERVE with spaghetti and a salad (even a teeny weeny one would be great) Remember your 5 A Day.

SPAGHETTI
PUT 500ml of water and ¼ tsp salt into a pot
LET it boil
ADD 100g wholemeal spaghetti to the boiling water
COOK for 8 minutes (al dente) cooked still firm
DRAIN and put on a plate
SPOON some mince sauce over
If you like sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over and dried parsley.

Try these
Make mock pizzas using the mince sauce. Slice a wholemeal French roll in 2. Spoon some of the sauce over and about 2 tbsp grated cheese. Grill under hot grill until cheese melts.

Or add red kidney beans, ½ to 1 tsp chilli powder and dried Italian herbs to make chilli.
Here is Susan cooking with some children.

Children love to cook when there's a grown-up to help.

Gardening & cooking

Chrissie Cress’ or Mingo Mungbean’s Story & Seed Pack.
I recommend either of these packs for a super speedy, indoor growing adventure.

 

Starter Kit £12

The ultimate Starter Kit ; storybook and seeds of your chosen vegetable and funky windowsill propagator. The propagator is colourful, re-usable and made from recycled plastic in the UK.

NEW! Hand Forged Secret Seed Society Trowel £15 not just for kids!

This is a beautifully crafted tool for keen young gardeners or those with smaller hands. Made in Holland to last a life-time. Combine with Story & Seed Packs for the complete Secret Seed Society experience. 

BOXSET £20

Our most popular gift, the first 4 Story & Seed Packs as a Boxset. All printed in the UK with vegetables inks. READ, GROW, COOK & EAT.

NEW!PERSONALISED Garden Tool Giftset £60  not just for kids!

These tools will last a lifetime. A spade, mattock and rake with long handles will cover most of the gardening jobs. Great for raised beds. The tools will now arrive in the New Year, so we will send a Secret Seed Gift card to your lucky recipient for Xmas to let them know their tolls will arrive shortly.

SPECIAL OFFER FREE POSTAGE ON ALL XMAS ORDERS

Get in touch if you have any questions about our products or would like to have Secret Seed Society at your Xmas Fayre, we can offer you a retailer discount if you’d like to sell them for your fundraiser.

Best Amy & Shena xx

I love TED talks so I was well chuffed to get asked to talk about ‘My Adventures with Vegetables’

Rice Dishes

Once you get the basics of cooking rice you will be able to create a meal super quick by combining not just the fresh foods that are in season but also making the most of leftovers and your store of tinned, dried or frozen foods. Here is inspiration from some traditional rice dishes.

The Spanish created Paella. It is full of Mediterranean delights; tomatoes, peppers and freshly caught fish if you are by the sea. The rice is often yellow from Saffron (a spice which is made from part of a crocus flower). Sometimes a special pan is used.

The British created Kedgeree a very tasty and filling breakfast by cooking rice with smoked fish, eggs, onions and curry powder. Wow – those are some flavours!!

The Italians created Risotto, the rice is normally creamy in colour and flavour. It often features a couple of flavours some more whacky than others, the internet is full of interesting combinations: Mushroom & Parsley, Pumpkin & Parmesan, Asparagus & Walnut…

A Simple One Pot Meal

• This is for roughly 2 adults and 2 children. If you end up with too much, keep some back for the next day. It will even be delicious cold so you can pack it for lunch.
• 1 mug of rice
• 2 mugs of protein
• Large onion
• 2 mugs of vegetables
• Tbspn Oil
• 3 mugs of water with 1 stock cube. (look for low salt)

We vary our ingredients by what we see is available, seasonal or on offer.

Protein 2 Chicken thighs with meat cut from bone, 300g Sausage, Nuts, 1 tin Butter Beans, 300gFish, 1 tinChickpeas.

Vegetables Peas, Celery,Peppers, Garlic, French beans, Broad beans, Tomatoes, Carrots, Parsley, Courgette.

Method

• Put oil in pan over medium heat and cook meat if using.
• Take meat out and keep to one side whilst you lightly fry chopped onion and any fresh veg you are using
• Add stock and bring to boil.
• Add rice and stir. Keep boiling for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Return the meat to the pan or other protein. Add any frozen veg. Bring back to boil.
• Turn down to simmer for 5 mins.

Serve with a crispy salad

Published each Tuesday. Our weekly update sharing what we have found exciting in the world of edible sustainability. Food for thought around gardening, cooking and eating plus interesting debates around a more sustainable future.

Latest Editions of Secret Seed Society Weekly

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As part of the Earlyarts Unconference 2012 we were sharing our resources and enthusiasm for developing creativity, all with our own edible vegetable twist.

Here’s Secret Seed Society creative with vegetables:

Interesting Earlyarts people we met:

Put yourself on the Earlyarts Map or see who is in your area

Here’s some guidance on how to make 4 courses from your lantern. Every pumpkin is different so add your own flair!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

To serve 6. Keeps in fridge for 3 days or frozen.

Put the following in a tray to roast in oven 180 degrees, till soft and golden, about 30mins:

Put the following together and liquidise until desired smoothness:

Place in a saucepan and bring back to the boil

Caramelised Pumpkin Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt

Serves 4-8. Store in freezer to eat another day

Put the following in a tray to roast in oven 180 degrees, till soft and golden, about 30mins:

Leave the pumpkin to cool then blend: