Sophia’s Seedlings: Young gardener shares veg with community

A Melksham girl, who has a passion for gardening, has been growing a variety of vegetable plants and selling them to the community to earn some pocket money. 

Seven-year-old Sophia Phillips grows plants from seed, including watermelon, courgettes, peas, runner beans, cucumbers, sweetcorn, broccoli and more, which she sells for around £1.

She also sells eggs from her 14 chickens. “I love growing the plants and watching the seeds grow,” said Sophia, who has been growing plants for three years.

“I sell them for about £1 and I am saving the money so that I have spending money on a holiday to Disney World when I am 10 years old.”

Sophia, who is a pupil at The Manor Primary School, sells her plants under the name ‘Sophia’s Seedlings,’ and recently donated some to Mavern House Care Home to enable them to start their plant garden.

“We start planting at the end of February, beginning of March because people like to get them in early. We might even do some winter vegetables this year,” she said.

Sophia’s mum, Ellyssa, said the project came about because they were teaching Sophia about where her food comes from. “We were growing little bits like strawberries and then we got adventurous and ended up with too many. We then sold some to family and friends and it spiralled from there,” she explained.

“We have some really lovely repeat customers who ask whether we are going to do it at the start of each year because the plants are so good.”

Sophia says she enjoys growing plants so much that she might open her own shop one day. “When I am a teenager and finish school and I can see what I would like to be when I grow up, I could work in a shop and sell my plants. I did want to be a vet but I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to sell my plants now,” she said.

Anyone who is interested in buying Sophia’s plants can visit the Sophia’s Seedlings Facebook page for more information.

Pictured: Sophia in her garden