They look like so much like paperbacks, about the size of a chocolate bar, that, with their elegant packaging, calling them "seed sachets" is really too simplistic: they are 24 mini-books of a library dedicated to special plants and vegetables that only need a pot to grow. "Piccolo" turns cultivating into a cultural experience to be enjoyed and narrated.
At a time whem growing fruit and vegetables on a balcony or terrace seems the latest frontier of urban eco-sustainable agriculture, "Piccolo" represents a new dimension. The project was initiated in 2012 in the Treviso province. A unique online-shop attracted clients form all over the world and caught the attention of Mu.Se Trento, Kristalia and the Triennale Design Museum. This will become the first Italian design museum to display an installation on hydroponic cultivation in collaboration with Antonio Scarponi and Bulbo Light as part of the "La storia e le storie del design italiano" exhibition curated by Chiara Alessi between April 2018 and January 2019.
The 24 "Piccolo" seed varieties were selected, with research and experimentation in mind, from old seed catalogues and they were tested for cultivation in pots as they are suitable to be grown in small spaces. The range includes traditional basil from Genoa, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines, chilli peppers, strawberries - all rare dwarf varieties, just like the legendary American "Mrs. Burns' Lemon" basil and "Thai Pink Egg" tomatoes.
On top of the accurate seed selection, "Piccolo's" peculiarity is its colourful packaging, well-designed down to the tiniest detail and made of sustainable fully-recyclable materials. They are true miniature books containing information and useful advice for cultivation: the best sowing period, growth times, light conditions and the water needed. But there are also the history of plants, medicinal properties and suggestions for recipes and cocktails.
"Piccolo" was established by Soira Bazzo and Filippo Santarossa, who wanted to develop something that would fill a gap on the market. Soira Bazzo recalls that "I had two bare terraces and came up with the idea to set up a small vegetable garden. I started to research which plants were more suitable to be grown in small spaces and found out there were none."
The creation of a small network of passionate growers was shortly followed by an online shop, also thanks to a period of study and research at the Heritage Seed Library in England, an organisation that aims at preserving the genetic heritage of forgotten varieties, as well as the participation in the "Urban Green Train", an international training course dedicated to urban agriculture and financed through the EU's Erasmus+ programme.
Research and culture are two key words to tell the story of "Piccolo", a project that sees contemporary vegetable plots in a new light. From Italian, American and British heirloom seeds - true gems with great stories behind them - to the idea that growing is a cultural experience, growing plants brings you back to a subjective psychological dimension that is connected not only to the pleasure of the produce grown but, most of all, to the pleasant experience of growing it.
Good things come in small packages!
Contacts:
Piccolo Seeds
Via del Lavoro, 4 – Conegliano (TV)
Email: info@piccoloseeds.com
Web: www.piccoloseeds.com