This Great Big Green Week, meet the Bexley mum who swapped careers to help others grow their own food

Gemma Hudson switched project management for planting veg, and now she’s on a mission to encourage other families to grow their own food after launching Seed Folk. Her story comes as the UK marks Great Big Green Week, running until June 15, a nationwide celebration of sustainable swaps for the planet.

Gemma was a project manager in tech but went to work for husband Rob’s HVAC business after having the couple’s two sons. But in 2020 when the pandemic hit, everything changed.

“We worked in the restaurant industry, maintaining air conditioning and ventilation units. When lockdown hit and the restaurants shut their doors, all our work stopped overnight,” said the 40-year-old.

“We had multiple staff members, an office, and we had just moved into a new house, so we had all these bills and no money coming in. It was insanely stressful.”

Shortly before the pandemic, the Hudsons had taken on two neglected allotment plots that sat directly behind the family home in Bostall Park Avenue. Here, Gemma and her family found a way to escape their worries.

‘A powerful act of hope’

“I feel like the only thing that saved us was the allotment,” recalls Gemma. “The weeds were six feet high when we took it on, it was like a jungle. During that first lockdown, we took it all back to soil and started planting. I had a newborn baby, so I was digging in the dirt with him in a carrier on my back.

“It was the only thing we had control over. Watching those seeds sprout, knowing we had grown something ourselves, was a quiet but powerful act of hope.”

As restaurants began to reopen their doors for takeaways, the family business started to find its feet again. But Gemma continued to tend the allotment where a seed of an idea had been sown.

She said: “The food shortages during lockdown made me realise how dependent we are on supermarket supply chains”

As the allotment grew, producing an abundance of everything from apples to aubergines, Gemma was inundated with questions from friends keen to start growing their own.

She said: “A lot of people wanted to grow their own food, but didn't know where to start. There is so much information out there, but people don't have the time to research it.

“I wanted to do something for beginners that went back to basics and gave people exactly what they needed to start growing.”

When Gemma’s youngest son Archie started school, she began working on her business idea, finally launching Seed Folk in February 2024.

Seed Folk’s Grow Boxes, containing everything the newbie gardener needs, are organic and sustainable. No plastic is used in any packaging, and the grow pots are made of biodegradable fabric.

Growing in schools - and via WhatsApp

A monthly subscription provides everything the first-time grower needs, from seeds and growing guides to compost, whether they have a windowsill, balcony, or garden. There’s even a special Grow Line on WhatsApp for those who need a little extra help.

Gemma spends hours at produce markets in Bexley and Greenwich, promoting her products, which are now also stocked on trendy lifestyle store Glassette.

And it seems as if Gemma’s hard work is paying off. She has sold kits as far afield as Scotland and Northern Ireland, with her wide customer base including the newly retired and a network of homeschooling parents.

“I've just started working with my sons’ school to develop a gardening programme for around 30 children. A lot of them don't know where their food comes from, and don't necessarily have access to healthy food all of the time,” Gemma said.

As for the future, Gemma said: “My aim is to grow Seed Folk by rolling it out to garden centres and independent stores. I also want to focus on community-based outreach programmes. There are communities that, at the moment, probably don't see my products or maybe can't afford them.

“I want it to make a difference to people's lives.”

Make your swaps for Great Big Green Week

Gemma’s story is just one of thousands of sustainable swaps told as part of Great Big Green Week, which takes place from June 7-15 and has the theme ‘Let's Swap Together For Good’.

Organisers of Great Big Green Week, The Climate Coalition, have released figures from a recent YouGov survey which show that everyday people across the UK are willing to cut waste, save energy and slash bills, quietly going green while saving cash.

Helen Meech, Executive Director of The Climate Coalition said,

"Quiet, practical action for the planet is happening in kitchens, gardens and communities across the country.

"Whether you’re in the North or South, young or old, people are stepping up and making changes that will not only save them money, but as an added bonus the environment will benefit.

"Helping the planet isn’t extreme or expensive. It’s just common sense."

To find out more visit: greatbiggreenweek.com/

Find out more about Seed Folk at: seedfolk.co/