There's no better indicator that spring is just around the corner than suddenly sprouting an interest in attending Seedy Saturday on Feb. 20
at The Exploration Place between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
"This is one of the big times for gardeners to get together," said Jovanka Djordjevich, a coordinator of the free Seedy Saturday.
"I don't think we have many events in Prince George where we're getting all the different garden groups and environmental groups in one place and it's a kick off. Having it in February is really important so that we get some people sharing and buying and exchanging seeds from the seed swap so they can grow locally grown seeds so that we can become a little more resilient as a community so that we're becoming a bit more sustainable and independent rather than always going to the big seed companies."
Seeds hearty enough to succeed during the Prince George area's growing season and trying something completely different will be highlighted during Seedy Saturday.
There's a seed swap and the opportunity to buy seeds as well as information booths to access many local organizations.
"What we really want to see is seeds people have saved from their family history," said Djordjevich.
"Or a seed that carries a story and the more we save and share them, the more we are continuing that story. I relish the seeds my dad has from Serbian squash and he tells me how they used to eat it and harvest it and it gives me a tie to my history and it adds more to our growing if we have a story behind it."
Selling seeds at Seedy Saturday is Stellar Seeds, an ecological and organic seed saver from the Kootenays. Sunshine Farm seeds from Kelowna is also an organic grower selling seeds at the event.
"There is a seed collective, which is a small group in town, that is trying to organize to create a local seed collection," said Djordjevich.
"We have lots of things for beginners and this event is about trying to get people interested and taking part - even if they try to save one kind of seed and learn what the process is."
Throughout the day there are informative sessions on a variety of subjects like Bugs - Why We Need 'Em and How to Keep 'Em.
"A lot of people tend not to like insects but they are such a valuable part - and play a valuable role - in our gardens - a lot of things we don't know or don't see they help us with, whether it's pollination or cycling nutrients and those kinds of things," said Djordjevich.
"Lynn Westcott will be doing that session and she'll share her passion with us."
Fingers on the Pulses sees Wendy McRae offering information about growing and saving beans, lentils, and peas.
"Pulses are beans, lentils and peas and they're very easy to grow," said Djordjevich. "It's actually the international year of the pulses and they are very healthy for us, with tons of fibre and proteins. I thought we should get more people growing, eating and saving seeds as well."
A Different Spin on Farming sees Brianna van de Wijngaard, of Puddle Produce Urban Farms in Williams Lake, talking about doing business in other people's yards.
"Spin farming is small-plot intensive farming," said Djordjevich.
"So Brianna uses many different properties to do her business and it's quite popular in other communities and I think it's time Prince George start thinking about that more."
Growing Great Garlic sees Noemie Touchette talking about how to grow and harvest garlic locally.
"Noemie Touchette will be sharing all of her valuable experience growing garlic and it's another thing that we save from year to year and we have to choose the garlic that we wish to grow next year before we consume it and go into the winter because we have to plant it in the fall ," said Djordjevich.
"So Noemie will be telling us the best ways to grow and about all the other things that are needed to have a good garlic harvest."
Seedy Saturday is really about connecting people, said Djordjevich.
"Gardeners to gardeners, new people to experienced people - just getting people connected to seeds and getting them to understand how important seeds are to our daily lives," said Djordjevich.
