My Story
I Work Hard To Provide You The Best Quality Plants And Bulbs
Welcome to Veg for Life, the home of Nottinghamshire perennial vegetable plants and seeds. Here you will find information about buying, growing, cooking and eating resilient and tasty vegetables of the future. These are vegetables which are better able to cope with extreme weather conditions caused by climate change than the usual annual crops grown in the UK. They are also ideal for busy people as they take care of themselves pretty much, once established. Growing and eating food that you can’t even buy in the shops increases the variety of vegetables in your diet. The crops can introduce you to new flavours and textures as well as improving your nutrition.
About Veg for Life
I studied permaculture and garden design and have established this company as a way of promoting local food production in Nottinghamshire. The plants I sell have been propogated from plants growing in my garden, and so have proven themselves to grow well in local conditions. Those in each crop that grow best are then grown on, further improving local provenance. I use ecological techniques for growing; peat free compost, minimal dig techniques and all in line with organic gardening.
Reducing airmiles to zero by growing food in your own garden not only helps the planet, but helps your health as food is fresh. Additionally it is likely to contain more nutrients and less chemicals than food grown elsewhere. You get the added benefit of free food, once you have bought your intial stock and learnt how to propagate it.
I run the company following the ethics of caring for people, caring for the planet. I am mindful of sharing resources among people around the world as well of consideration of future generations and other living creatures. I tithe the profits that I make, giving 10% to charities such as the Ethos Foundation.
About me
I have had a varied career, first as a medical doctor working in a bush hospital in South Africa, then head of an AIDS Charity in the same village, then various medical jobs in the UK and 5 years as a GP. Now I am helping people through nature connection and growing local, healthy food. As well as developing this nursery, I volunteer at FarmEco and am EcoChampion for St Mary’s Church.
Ann Dean
Founder
I discovered the concept of food forests two years ago and was fascinated by them. The idea is to build layers of plants from trees, bushes, climbers with an understory which can include roots and mushrooms. This forms a productive, low maintenance, self sustaining food system while providing homes and food for birds and insects.
After completing my permaculture design course, I finished planting up my own garden as a food forest. Now I am propagating plants to sell to others nearby. Also I am developing recipes showing how to use the plants that grow best here in the East Midlands.
I am available to help you design your own food forest. No garden is too small or shady to grow something in it!