The Seedy Saturday organising committee for the Powell River Farmers Institute is pleased to report that Seedy Saturday was again a resounding success this year. We expanded into the upper hallway at the Complex (as well as the Arbutus, Cedar, Elm and Spruce rooms) and had more visitors, more seed vendors, and more community information tables than previous years. A highlight was the Farmers Institute display of historic farm and garden equipment along with local pioneer farmers on hand to talk to visitors.
Highlights
| Paying attendees | 583 | 30% increase over 2011, which was itself a 50% increase over 2010 |
| Volunteers, table staff and children | 100 | Estimated – they enter for free |
| Seed vendors | 5 | There would have been one more from the Island, but they missed the ferry! |
| Other vendors | 4 | Garden and sustainability-related |
| Community groups | 25 | |
| Workshops | 8 | |
| Packages of seed sold at the exchange | 1375 | Seed for sale is donated by local farmers and gardeners, and made very affordable |
| Number of gardeners buying seed at the exchange | 138 | There is a limit on seed sales of 10 packets per person, but some people don’t buy that many, so the number of people buying seed is certainly more than this. |
Our Seedy Saturday co-operated with others in BC by passing on un-swapped seed: we received a box of seeds from the Courtenay/Comox event, and passed on our extras to Duncan.
We also held a very successful pre-event in February featuring Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds, who gave a talk on GMOs and Seed Banks attended by about 175 people.
Thank You to…
- Seed savers, donors, swappers and buyers
- the City of Powell River
- Community Info Table volunteers
- Seedy Saturday operations volunteers
- Vendors
- Powell River Museum
- Workshop presenters
- Pioneer farmers
And our Silent Auction donors:
Glade Farm, Westcoast Worms, Eternal Seed, Rainbow Valley Feed Store, LittleWing Farm, Transition Town Powell River, Pete Kantymir, EcoTerra Developers, Springtime Nursery, Great Balls of Wool, Breakwater Books, Kingfisher Used Books, Creative Rift Gallery, McFayden Seeds, Andtbaka Farm, Creekside Farm, Mother Nature Garden Centre, Relay Rentals and Don Boese.
What is Seedy Saturday?
Choosing seeds
Seedy Saturday is a day of seed swapping and information sharing for community groups, gardeners and farmers. The idea behind this event is to promote regional food self-sufficiency by growing a community network of growers and seed savers. Participants save their best seeds from varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees that thrive in the local environment. By exchanging these seeds within the community, both the quality and quantity of affordable seeds rises for everyone. Informed seed-saving also assists in maintaining regional bio-diversity and our agricultural heritage.
Reliable, high-quality sources of seeds should not be taken for granted. Much of the flower and vegetable seed sold in Canada is grown elsewhere in the world. Crop failures happen. International political and economic troubles disrupt global supply and distribution of food and seed. Bio-engineering-corporations like Monsanto increasingly control global producers of significant food crops, like corn, canola and soya beans. Prices for vegetable seeds ever rise.
At Seedy Saturday, people swap their packaged seeds for other people’s seeds. If you are new to seed saving, and don’t have seeds to swap, hundreds of local seed packets donated by local growers are sold for fifty cents a package. (limit 10 packages) Gardening and farming books or magazines are also exchanged at the swap.
Book swap
Eight garden-related workshops are held throughout the event. Community information tables manned by dozens of enthusiastic volunteers offer useful tips and guidance on topics like market gardening, permaculture, composting, and bee-keeping. The event has also expanded into the sale of seeds, fertilizers and garden-related products by vendors in the Upper Hallway of the Recreation Complex. This family friendly event includes a children’s activity corner and a Seedy Cafe, as well as a popular Silent Auction.
