Gardening is often seen as a therapeutic hobby, a way to connect with nature, and for those with a green thumb, a source of pride as they nurture plants from seed to bloom. But for one Western Australian grain farmer, his routine purchase of cabbage seedlings turned into an unexpected treasure hunt, revealing a glint of gold amidst the green.


Alan Sandwell, a Katanning grain and sheep farmer, is no stranger to sowing seeds on his expansive 4,000-hectare property. However, nothing could have prepared him for the surprise that lay hidden within the roots of a cabbage plant—a gold ring that seemed to whisper tales of distant lands and forgotten stories.


The journey of the ring is as mysterious as it is fascinating. Purchased from a local hardware store, the punnet of cabbage seedlings had traveled from a Perth nursery, but the origins of the ring itself hinted at a much longer voyage. The nursery supervisor speculated that the ring could have come from 'anywhere in the world,' possibly hitching a ride in imported peat moss from Holland.


Imagine Mr. Sandwell's astonishment when, in the process of dividing the seedlings, he unearthed not the expected clod of dirt but a round gold ring. 'I thought it was a gold coin,' he recounted, 'but then I realized there was dirt in the middle and it was a round gold ring.' The discovery was made even more serendipitous by the fact that the ring was found only because there were two seedlings in the punnet, prompting him to split them apart.

The ring itself, ornate and unblemished despite its time in the soil, suggested value. Mr. Sandwell, a former school teacher who also manages a vegetable patch at a local aged care facility, recognized its potential worth and embarked on a quest to find its rightful owner. The search involved the seedling supplier, the Perth nursery, and even reached international ears as the story of the found ring spread.

In a twist of fate, a nursery staff member initially thought the ring might be hers, lost forever to the earth. However, a photo comparison dashed those hopes—the ring in Mr. Sandwell's possession lacked the diamond that adorned hers.


While the true owner of the ring remains a mystery, this story serves as a reminder of the unexpected surprises that can lie hidden in the most mundane of places. It's a tale that sparks the imagination and prompts us to wonder about the history behind the objects we come across.

For our readers at the Seniors Discount Club, this story might inspire you to take a closer look the next time you're pottering around in the garden or handling a punnet of seedlings. Who knows what secrets your soil might hold? Perhaps a piece of history, a lost heirloom, or even a token from a far-off land is waiting to be uncovered.

We'd love to hear from you—have you ever found something unexpected in your garden? A piece of old pottery, a forgotten toy, or maybe even your own piece of buried treasure? Share your stories in the comments below and let's celebrate the wonder of discovery that can come from the simple act of gardening.


And remember, while not all of us will find gold rings in our vegetable patches, the true treasure lies in the joy of growing and the connection to the earth. Happy gardening, members!