Now here's an opportunity, if I'm not mistaken..

[Nigel B]

Hey folks. :)

My youngest son, Lewis, has become an overseas volunteer with Raleigh International's International Citizen Service (ICS)... and so, is going to spend ten weeks in Southern India digging and providing toilets, clean water and sanitation lessons to some of the world's poorest.   http://www.raleighinternational.org/where-we-work/india/raleigh-ics-india

Yes, I am a very proud Dad. 

Here he is:  https://www.justgiving.com/Lewis-Burke2, and as you can see, he has reached his target of £800 charity money raised, which is all part of the process. (Just so you know we're not begging from forum members :) )

Now, I'm sure that more than one reading this has already had the same kind of idea I have............... What seeds can I convince him to bring home...?? 

Unfortunately, he will be out of contact throughout the expedition so I'll have to prime him in advance....
Chillies. Ok. We all know that most families living in the sticks will have their very own favourite chilli bushes and stuff....
But what else should I ask him to look out for? Something we may be able to grow here in the greenhouse perhaps? Maybe someone has memories of that part of the World and can offer up suggestions or ideas?
Waddya fink?

[Nigel B]

[Obelixx]

First of all, well done to your son and I hope he enjoys the experience.

I'm sorry to rain on your parade but I would be very wary of bringing back unregulated seeds as they can harbour all sorts of viruses, bacteria and even pests and their eggs.   That's why they have certified suppliers and processes for bringing them in.   You must be aware that countries like Oz, NZ, the USA have very strict bans on uncertified seeds and plants in order to protect their native flora and fauna.

So do the EU and DEFRA - for good reason although I personally think their controls and checks are inadequate - ash dieback, horse chestnut miners, processionary oak moth and all sorts of other baddies get through on plant material.

[Digeroo]

From many places the limit is 5 retail packets of seeds.   They should be sealed. 

[Nigel B]

Ah yes! Good old f.. regulations...

Y'know. If any Heritage varieties of seeds are going to survive at all, it will be through the efforts of keen amateurs and not the people applying for patents for their own seeds.
Patents for seeds. Can you imagine?

Regulations, it is true, can help to prevent things like nasty fungal outbreaks in the massive monoculture 'Sapling forests' of one or two year-old ash cuttings that cover acres and acres of land where deciduous woods and forests once stood.
Not right though is it.
Ash Dieback came here on the back of existing regulations anyway as far as I understand. Which, to be fair, isn't that far at all.

Anyway. I digress.

A few seeds swapped between people with a shared interest is a fine thing to my mind.
So.
Chilli
Eggplant?

[Jayb]

Well done to Lewis, a marvellous experience for him being able to take part, you must be very proud. What a difference it must make to help supply clean water and toilets to those that don't have any 

If he finds some chillies he likes there, they would likely do very well.
Aubergine can be a little more fickle in their growing needs. Okra, but again need protective growing.
Depending on the area, perhaps local tomatoes?
Herbs and spices that can grow over here?

[Obelixx]

Nigel B - it is true we've had lots of stuff come in depsite regulations but regulations only work if applied and monitored.

That being said, it was, I understand, illegally imported meat which caused the devastating foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 at a cost of over 80billion pounds to the economy and tax payer, not to mention the effects on the lives and livelihoods of many farming communities and their stock.   

I don't think we should be blythe about unregulated plant material either.

I hope Lewis has enjoyed the experience.

[Nigel B]

Finally an update!  They did warn us, quite often, that no news is good news, but hooray all the same.
He's living in a tiny tribal village called Bommadu. 



Bommadu Colony is at the edge of the forest, not deep in the forest. Because of encroachment, fires, climate change and globalization of the economy, it's almost impossible for them to live that way now, particularly as whole and thriving communities. — at Near Gonikoppal, Coorg in Karnataka State, India.
---

In his letter Lewis mentions the many chilli plants and vines and says he's trying to choose something to bring home. He has picked his own beans and is drying them in the sun ready for the journey home so he can make his Mum a real cup of coffee! He also mentions Saffron, and its fresh abundance where he is. 
So the good news is, apart from him being happy and well, he's keeping his eyes open.....
Can't wait! ;)

[goodlife]

Ah, you have trained him well.... Nothing like few seedy pressies to bring back home
I must tattoo 'seeds' on my family's foreheads...they never even think of it, no matter how many times I've mentioned it.

Oh it looks and sounds so interesting there!

[galina]

Super photo- how tame is that bird!  Glad he is well and having a great time.  And happy that you heard from him at last.  How lovely to pick coffee beans to make his mum a proper cup of coffee    And thinking of seeds for dad too.   

Hope all goes well for him in the remaining time too.  You can be very proud of him.   

[Nigel B]

Updates, it seems, are like buses. You don't see one for flippin' ages, then two arrive at the same time.

Still:     


http://www.raleighinternational.org/ri-blogs/raleigh-india-ics/2673-india-kilo-12-bommadu-blog-02

and

http://www.raleighinternational.org/ri-blogs/raleigh-india-ics/2674-india-kilo-12-bommadu-blog-03

He'll be home in three weeks or so now. We can hardly wait.

[Jayb]

Opps, missed the first update.
Wow, what a wonderful time he must be having. Thanks for the updates