Yes, it snowed; today it’s raining; most every day is dark and sunless … but … the perfect day is close at hand to raise your spirits! If you’re gardener, whether novice or old hand, save the date for that magical day, SEEDY SATURDAY! Mark it on your calendar now, if it’s not already there … SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1.
That’s the day to make sure you visit the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre at 747 Jones Ave. between 10 am and 3:30 pm. when all the space in and around the building will be waiting for you with ‘everything garden’ … experts, information, displays, books, and garden items galore!
Under the umbrella of ‘Seeds of Diversity’, Seedy Saturdays across the continent will encourage gardeners with new ideas, information, problem-solving, and the latest garden gadgets (or replacements for the tried and true.)
A couple of the most intriguing parts of ‘Seedy’ will be the two talks by experienced gardeners. In the morning at 10:30 – 11:30 Chris Brown (known as ‘Farmer Brown’) will share his expertise with the topic: “Local Food Solves Global Problems”. Says Chris: “My goal is to help grow a food resilient local economy based on farming. I hope to help others see the value of farming (gardening) and healthy food and soil”.
In the afternoon, Joyce McMenamon will share her knowledge on a subject dear to the hearts of gardeners: “Backyard Composting”. Joyce has been turning food scraps into rich, nutritious soil for decades and wants to share her ‘wormy insights’ and answer your questions. Her motto is “Feed the soil that feeds the plants that feed us!”
Over 70 participants in ‘Seedy’ will offer a multitude of other products, displays, knowledge, and inspiration during the day, perhaps the most exciting being the “Seed Swap” (the soul of “Seedy”) which, in a room of its own, lets gardeners exchange their own saved seeds for others that have been donated by local gardeners.
If you have no seeds of your own to exchange, you can always purchase packets for a small fee (and next year, you will have seeds of your own to exchange!).
The fascination of the “Seed Swap” is that some of the available seeds came originally from the other side of the world, or have been saved, sown and harvested by local gardeners for decades, which pretty much ensures that these are seeds grow in our local areas!
The foyer and the main hall, not to mention the outdoor entry area, will be alive with other “Seedy” participants displaying their wares, their expertise, their suggestions, surely a smile, and maybe a handshake!
Think books, magazines, tools, garden ornaments, gloves and other gardening apparel, plus ‘widgets and ‘what’s its’ that work for you and the growing things in your garden.
To add to this plethora of offerings garden, there are raffle tickets if you’re feeling lucky, with prizes of art and practical garden items, from such as Ted Jolda, Margery Bloom, Qualicum Foods, Dolly’s Home Hardware, Lee Valley Tools … and there’s Sea Soil!
Possibly all this abundance is taking a toll on your stamina, but not to worry … there’s the “Seedy Café” to replenish your energy. Oh! … and when you first come in there are door prizes if you are lucky, and you can pick your choice of prize from the foyer prize table.
Whew!! What a DAY! Plan to be a part of Seedy Saturday 2020 (now that’s an auspicious number, right?)
Mark it on your calendar right now … February 1st, 10am to 3:30pm, Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Time to forget worrying about your manicure and make plans for digging in the dirt
Nancy Whelan
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