About Us

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=110 style=" border-bottom: 4px solid #336600;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="08000763.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="340" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 75 WIDTH="10"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="75" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="10" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="65" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#CCFF33" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336600" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><B>Home</B></FONT></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="57" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#CCFF33" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336600" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="shop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shop"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><B>Shop</B></FONT></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="94" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#CCFF33" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336600" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> <B>About Us</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="82" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#CCFF33" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336600" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><B>Contact</B></FONT></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="73e205a0.jpg" border=0 width="544" height="90" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=370 style=" border-top: 4px solid #336600;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0881b4a3.jpg"> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="7" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="877" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000033" BORDERCOLORDARK="#000033" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCFF99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 26 WIDTH="839"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="26" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="839" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=2 COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 1 WIDTH="839"><div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-236/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="39" height="36">  About Us</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 845 WIDTH="839"><bR> <div> Growing Greetings was conceived in 2002 by the botanical ecophysiology expert Dr. Helen Marshall BSc. (Hons) MSc. Ph.D.<A HREF="seeded_shapes_sprinkles___red_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seeded shapes"><FONT COLOR="#003300"><IMG SRC="735fdbe0.jpg" border=0 width="253" height="190" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="5"></FONT></A> Originally the seed paper shapes were developed as part of an allotment project (Home Grown Organic) to give visually and physically impaired people an alternative to handling tiny seeds and also to interest children in growing veg. Popularity of the seed papers rapidly grew and Growing Greetings was formed as a Limited Company in 2008. Since then we have not only provided our innovative and unusual gifts cards to the public but have also engaged in large scale marketing and promotional projects with County Councils, businesses and charities nationwide. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d76a100.jpg" border=0 width="362" height="272" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="0">Our rigorous scientific tests showed that seeds embedded in ordinary paper have a very low germination rates and so we developed an entirely new way to approach the problem with our natural starch sheets, fabrics and films. Our embedding media dissolves rapidly promoting strong root and shoot growth and allowing a huge variety of plant species to be embedded rather than just the standard vigorous wildflower mixes. We can provide most seed types for bulk orders as well as customised card/leaflet printing, seed paper printing and seed paper shapes. We use water soluble bio-degradable inks and recycle all our waste on site and we attempt to be fully eco-friendly in all our production processes.</div> <bR> <div> All seeds in use in our seeded shapes have been thoroughly tested. We are happy to try new seed types for those wishing to purchase bulk custom products, however you should notify us of your seed choice as soon as possible to allow us time to complete our trials and ensure you get a top quality product. The following list contains the seeds we have already tested and verified high germination rates. Please note that we include as many seeds as possible in our products to guarantee results and ensure good bushy growth. We cannot be held responsible for individual planting conditions however we use mixes of plant varieties that are easy to grow and tolerate of a wide range of growth conditions. Please note that the larger the seeds, the fewer we can embed in each shape. We do however always include enough seeds to ensure good germination results.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="currently_tested_seed_list"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Currently Tested Seed List:</B></div> <div> Marigold (French Petite),    Ox-Eye Daisy, Brachycome (Swan River Daisy),    Sunflower,    Sweet William,    Cosmos,    California Poppy, Night Scented Stock,    Sweet Basil,    Chrysanthemum,    Gaillardia,    Cornflower,    Dianthus (Pinks),    Flanders Poppy,</div> <div> Musk Mallow, Antirrhinum,    Evening Primrose,    Lettuce,   Cress, Alfalfa,    Fenugreek,    Black Sesame,    White Sesame,</div> <div> Linseed,    Watermelon,    Chicory,    Creeping Thyme,    Pepper,    Tomato,    Cabbage, Cauliflower, Mesembryanthemum   Broccoli,    Brussel Sprout, Radish,    Turnip,    Noble Fir Tree, Thyme, Marjoram, Sweet Basil, .Chicory, Echinaceae, Foxglove, Lupin, Larkspur, Dahlia, Monarda (Bergamot), Mooli (Chinese radish), Limnanthes (poached egg plant), Viola, Chamomile, Cucumber, Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Shamrock, Sweet William, Hoary Basil.</div> <bR> <div> We currently have many more plant types in testing and continue to add as many new varieties as possible to our collection.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 418 WIDTH="839"><div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-971/aniGif.gif" alt="Flower Bullet" border="0" align="bottom" width="39" height="36">  Growing Greetings Ltd wins a Sustainable Small Business award!</B></div> <div> <B>We are very proud to announce that Growing Greetings Ltd was chosen from among the finalists to win the ARENA Network small business award from Sustainable Swansea!</B> </div> <bR> <div> The Sustainable Swansea Awards showcases what many local organisations and individuals are doing to make a difference. This year, twenty-one projects were short-listed in seven different categories and the winners were announced at a prestigious Mayoral ceremony in the Brangwyn Hall on 22nd July. The event was presided over by the Evening Post’s editor, Spencer Feeney, and there was a special address by BBC presenter Jason Mohammad who explained his understanding of sustainability with reference to his experiences when reporting at the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="01ecfca0.jpg" border=0 width="207" height="202" ALT="Dr. Marshall winning the 2008 ARENA Network sustainable small business award" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="0">The seven award categories were large and small businesses, large and small community projects, schools, public agencies and individual champions. A judging panel of fourteen experts in the fields of environment, education, development and community regeneration deliberated over 45 applications and chose three finalists for each category to attend the awards ceremony. “The standard for this year’s awards was incredibly high and the task faced by the judges was not an easy one to say the least. There was much excitement amongst the applicants and others involved in the scheme but the final winners were kept secret until the awards evening when they were revealed ‘Oscar-style’ by each category sponsor.” explained one of the coordinators, Philip McDonnell.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 363 WIDTH="267"><div> Growing Greetings Ltd uses recycled and biodegradable components for its seed paper living gifts and recycles its waste on site. Not only are the living cards eco-friendly, we also re-use grey water on our plant test beds and produce organic fertiliser from our flock of ducks to make our practices eco-friendly too! We use only organic or eco-friendly cleaning products in our premises and even our light bulbs are all energy saving ones! After thorough inspection of the premises and production methods, the judges agreed that Growing Greetings Ltd makes significant efforts towards sustainability in all areas!</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH="567"><div> <IMG SRC="02047e70.jpg" border=0 width="327" height="231" ALT="Dr. Marshall winning the 2008 ARENA Network sustainable small business award" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> BBC News reader Jason Mohammed co-hosted</div> <div> the 2008 awards.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="02a6e510.jpg" border=0 width="110" height="81" ALT="ARENA Network logo" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="02887510.jpg" border=0 width="135" height="81" ALT="Environment Agency Logo" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="02456510.jpg" border=0 width="86" height="81" ALT="Sustainable Swansea logo" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="839"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="38" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="839" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 405 WIDTH="839"><div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-972/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="39" height="36">  Growing Greetings is supported by a 2008 Social Entrepreneur Award from UnLtd</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks to the UnLtd foundation for Social Entrepreneurs Growing Greetings has financial support for its various environmental and social projects.</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="02b6f2a0.jpg" border=0 width="111" height="42" ALT="UnLtd Logo" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3">UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. UnLtd's social entrepreneurs are real visionaries however, that doesn't mean they necessarily develop complex, global solutions to large-scale issues; often, social entrepreneurs simply take a problem in their own community and make a commitment to tackle it. This may lead to something bigger, or it may not; what makes a true social entrepreneur is that they have the will to make a difference, the vision to know how to go about it and the determination to make that vision happen. UnLtd Award Winners come from a hugely diverse range of backgrounds, ethnicities and locations. They all have different reasons for wanting to change the world, and different ideas about how to go about it. However, some of the characteristics an Award Winner demonstrates includes:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="02eb87c0.jpg" border=0 width="184" height="124" ALT="Millennium Awards logo" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="2" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>     * Vision</div> <div>     * Determination</div> <div>     * Passion</div> <div>     * Self motivation and self belief</div> <div>     * Flexibility</div> <div>     * Resourcefulness</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 543 WIDTH="267"><div> Dr. H. Marshall (Botanist & Founder of Growing Greetings Ltd) has received both a Level 1 and Level 2 UnLtd Millennium award for her various visionary projects which aim to make ethnobotany (the various uses of plants e.g. food, medicines) a viable means of developing sustainability both in the UK and developing countries. Growing Greetings Ltd is proud to be instrumental in setting up projects such as Home Grown Organic (which aims to encourage UK residents to grow more of their own food) and Organic Perspectives (a food plant seed bank in Uganda allowing poorer farmers access to vital seed supplies). Growing Greetings is also proud to announce its new initiative in association with MEWN (Minority Ethnic Women's Network) and W4R (Women For Resources) to provide food plant seeds which will allow women in Liberia and Kenya a means of obtaining a balanced diet to decrease mortality during childbirth and other problems associated with malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF WIDTH="567"><div> <IMG SRC="3cd60f60.jpg" border=0 width="352" height="502" ALT="Dr. Marshall with 2007 UnLtd award" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="839"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="27" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="839" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#CCFF99 HEIGHT= 56 WIDTH="839"><div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-242/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="39" height="36">  Terms and Conditions</B><B> <A NAME="conditions"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#CCFF99 HEIGHT= 1241 WIDTH="267"><div> Purchasing from Growing Greetings Ltd constitutes agreement with our terms and conditions as detailed here.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="73c07670.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="103" ALT="Growing Greetings Ltd Logo" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#CCFF99 WIDTH="567"><bR> <div> <B>Dispatch Times</B></div> <div> Standard web purchases are made fresh to order and will be dispatched within 5 working days of placing the order. Custom orders will usually be dispatched 14 days from clearance of payment if using seeds that have already been through our testing procedures. For bulk orders, dispatch time is as stated on the Invoice. If using a new seed variety, we perform germination trials and will require additional time to complete the order. Please allow 3 working days for cheques to clear and 5 working days for BACS transfer. Please inform us of any deadline dates you may have so that we can work with you to ensure your order arrives with you in good time.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Payment</B></div> <div> Purchases from our online shop require immediate payment. Custom orders can be provided with an electronic invoice for online payment or a printed invoice for payment by cheque or BACS transfer. Payment is in advance for custom orders. Non-payment of invoices may lead to refusal of any future orders from the customer. Payment of invoices indicates acceptance of our terms and conditions as presented here</div> <bR> <div> <B>Private Information</B></div> <div> Payments to us are processed via a 3rd party payment service, we do not retain your payment details and all online transactions are performed via a secure gateway. If placing an order with us, your email address will be retained on our system so that we can send you news and updates on our products. Your email address will be removed from our mailing list on request. We do not share or sell your private information to any other party for any purposes.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Custom Card Proofs</B></div> <div> Custom graphics for card and seed paper printing may be supplied as Jpg or PDF file types. Charges for printing vary with ink density such that designs with full printed backgrounds will incur greater costs and low ink designs will be cheaper.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Returns & Refunds</B></div> <div> All seed paper batches are tested to ensure good germination and the highest quality. As planting conditions are beyond our control, we cannot guarantee the germination rate experienced by customers. We do however always include enough seeds to ensure plenty of viable plants even with natural variation. In the case of tree seeds we test to ensure at least 90% germination rate and include at least 2 seeds so that at least one is guaranteed to be viable. Custom orders are non-refundable after approval of printing proofs. This does not affect your statutory rights and in the unlikely event of print imperfections, refunds for faulty items will be provided. All faulty items should be returned to us for inspection within 14 days of receipt. Returns must be agreed in advance and all orders are noted as 'Accepted in good condition' after 14 days from receipt and no refund or replacement will be provided after this time.. Returns will be inspected prior to approval for refund or replacement. Non-faulty goods returned under a fraudulent claim of 'faulty' will be liable for additional postage charges for their return to the customer or a restocking fee (covering all materials and labour). This will be recovered from the refund total or invoiced to the customer for payment prior to re-dispatch. Fraudulent claims of faulty goods will result in refusal of any future orders from the customer.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Postage & Packing</B></div> <div> Web purchases are dispatched via First Class Royal Mail within 5 working days and we always obtain proof of purchase. For orders over £20 we may also purchase additional services such as Signed For to ensure safe arrival. Orders over £100 are covered by postal insurance to fully protect our customers in the event of any loss or damage in the postal system. We are not liable for any delays in the postal service after dispatch.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Behaviour Policy</B></div> <div> Our staff work hard to provide the best possible service and as such any abusive or inappropriate behaviour towards them will not be tolerated. Any person deemed to be behaving in an inappropriate or offensive manner will be blocked from our email systems and refused the placement of any future orders.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 26 WIDTH="839"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="26" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="839" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#CCFFFF HEIGHT= 82 ><NOBR><div> All graphics and contents copyright 2011Growing Greetings Ltd.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Andalus" >Growing Greetings </FONT>TM<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Andalus" >, Banquet of Flowers </FONT>TM, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Andalus" >Living Logos</FONT> TM<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Andalus" > and Send-a-Salad </FONT>TM<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Andalus" > are all trademarks of Growing Greetings Ltd</FONT></div> <div> No reproduction of any part of this website is allowed without our consent.</div> <div> Registered Company No. 6597860</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>