Customers can plant the seeds in pots at home and watch them grow into dwarf sunflowers which will be between six and 14 inches tall. A community event honouring our outstanding landscape through the arts Saturday 17 September, 6.00pm Box Hill In Paul’s farewell message at Ephesus, he said, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there…However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20: 22 -24) Is there not an echo of this message in the history of Guido Ministries? Michael and Audrey, like Paul, had no idea “what would happen to them…only that they would be found faithful to finish the race and complete the task God gave them of testifying the good news of God’s grace.” Only God knew what He had planned for this, His ministry. Over the years, God’s message of the Good News of His love, mercy, grace, salvation, hope, and eternal life has not changed. However, the methods and means of sharing this message continue to grow and be blessed by God – and will continue to grow and be blessed by God – if we are faithful to Him and honor Him in all that we do, and give Him all the glory for all that we accomplish in His Name. Fufucha has convinced herself that she is doing more harm than good to the natural world she so loves. Preposterous! Has she forgotten the countless trees she planted after the Calamity, journeying far and wide to return lush verdure to our shattered realm? The sadness, the powerlessness is at times too great to bear. And yet, if I were to walk away, who would tend to the wounded forest in my stead?

Rest easy, Forename. I will remain here at the Growery. How could I not? The forest needs every friend it can muster in these dark times, and it would seem I still have much to learn. Botany is not simply my livelihood. I consider it my true calling─a calling I would never have discovered were it not for Fufucha's guidance. Needless to say, I was devastated to hear the news. Seeds of Hope is a dream seed sown a few years ago. With a huge increase in demand for locally adapted, open-pollinated seed 2021 seemed the perfect time to launch membership of a seed library. My name's Charlie Gray and I've been saving seed at Horton Community Farm in Bradford for many years now. I continue to grow and save seed here and am also Northern Regional coordinator for Gaia Foundation's Seed Sovereignty programme. On their long trip home to Metter in an ambulance, Michael broke the silence when he said, “Audrey, we have no assurance of tomorrow, so we need to do more for the Lord each day that he gives us. Other than our evangelistic revivals, what can we do to reach more people with the gospel message? We have just experienced the uncertainties of life and the possibility of death when we least expect it. What else can we do for the Lord?”

Check out some lovely photos of our Seeds of Hope campaign so far...

Of course, I understand her worries─these are not easy times for a true seeker of peace and friend to nature. And yet, I cannot help but feel that her emotions cloud her better judgment─that she is not seeing the forest for the trees, if you will.

At Yannie's request, Fufucha journeyed to Coerthas to see with her own eyes the forest she helped grow, and the experience has opened her eyes. Return to the Botanists' Guild and speak with Fufucha. A strength it has harbored since time immemorial, and one it shares with us. A strength that goes beyond logs we harvest or the herbs we gather. Your gentle concern for my faltering heart is not lost on me. Nor is the meaning of this forest. The trees themselves speak volumes.Fufucha and I have known each other since we were both knee-high to a funguar, and I assure you, her knowledge of and passion for the flora of this realm is second to none. This guild would be absolutely lost without her guidance.

Having finally come to peace with her role as a botanist in times of strife, Fufucha has decided to remain at the guild. She thanks you for helping her rediscover the sense of purpose she had lost, and applauds you as a model for all botanists to follow.

Forgive me if I seemed a bit distant the last time we spoke, Forename. Allow me to get straight to the point. I have not come to this decision easily, but I have come to it all the same: as of today, I have resigned from the Botanists' Guild.