Seedy Saturdays

Seedy Saturday and Sunday events are in full swing across Canada.  These community events facilitate the sharing or swapping or purchase of open pollinated seeds. Sometimes the focus is on heritage seeds but mostly it is about getting unmodified seeds and maintaining biodiversity. The events also keep seeds in the public domain which helps avoid trade marking by large companies.

Speckled Roman Tomato  http://www.annapolisseeds.com

Exciting (to a gardener) is the fascinating variety of seeds. My imagination goes into overdrive and I see them all growing in my backyard. Scholars from around the world flock to my garden......Oops. This is why I sternly tell myself beforehand, "JUST ONE NEW PLANT" and manage to keep it to three.

By the time I leave I've visited most of the booths, listened to guest speakers and chatted with like minded people. I've gleaned valuable advice, discussed changes in the environment with the "elders" and imbibed copious amounts of tea. I depart, clutching my little brown bags of seeds, a tired, happy and contented girl.                 

The first Seedy Saturday was set up by Sharon Rempel in 1990. Read more about Sharon and her work at http://www.grassrootsolutions.com/

Here in Calgary Seedy Saturday is March 17^th 10-3 at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre    

Seeds of Diversity lists events across Canada at http:// www.seeds.ca/ev/events.php

http://www.seedsavers.net/ has a list of seed saver groups in Australia

http://www.seedsavers.org.nz in New Zealand

http://www.seedsavers.org is an online resource in the U.S.                           

http://www.seedysunday.org/ in the U.K. They have a nice “how to start your own event” section