KAMLOOPS SEEDY SATURDAY

February 4, 2013 | Carole

When: February 2 and 16, 2013 and March 2 and 16, 2013
Where: Sahali Centre Mall
Time: 10:00am-2:00pm
Contact: Leslie Welch 250.828.2321 or Fawn Knox 250.579.5768
Email: plants444@gmail.com or fawnfknox@gmail.com

“In our society, growing food yourself has become the most radical of acts… By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world – we change ourselves.”
Jules Dervaes

PRESS RELEASE: Annual Seedy Saturday alters direction to pave the way for Seed Sanctuary

Seedy Saturday Event held on the last week of February is being altered so plans towards establishing a local Seed Sanctuary can begin. The Seedy Saturday event began with the idea of providing opportunities for individuals to learn how to save and share local, organic seeds, how to grow a successful garden and how to preserve the harvest. We will continue with this in mind but one group is providing a whole new approach to our annual event while others are preparing for a local seed sanctuary.

This year the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners will host a Veggie Garden in a Bagevent during which gardening advice, information handouts on soil fertility, seed saving, and demonstrations will be offered. In addition the Master Gardeners have gathered packets of seeds into paper bags organized to contain most of the seeds needed to plant a successful garden. These bags will be handed out free to folks attending the Veggie Garden in a Bag event. The event will take place at the Visions Farmers Market at Sahali Mall commencing on February 2, 2013 from 10:00am-2:00pm. The event will be held on February 16, March 2, and 16 at the same times.

With plans well under way for a successful alternative to the Seedy Saturday, attention is now being directed to establishing a local seed sanctuary and, as well, inviting those individuals who have saved his or her own seeds to participate in a locally grown seed exchange. Our goal is to appeal to interested individuals who appreciate the importance of preserving and promoting regionally adapted organic seeds. We will need a devoted group of people who would be committed to maintaining, evaluating and keeping records of vegetables and herbs grown in this area.

This will be a daunting task but fortunately help is not far away. Dan Jason, founder of theSalt Spring Seed and Plant Sanctuary, is willing to come to Kamloops to talk about his experiences on Salt Spring Island and to help us to “grow our own seed bank”. Dan Jason will be here in Kamloops on Saturday April 27th to speak to those interested in this project and to those who want to participate in a locally grown seed exchange. The time and location are currently being considered and will be announced soon. The goal to establish a local seed sanctuary is closer to being realized.