Spring may feel lately like it’s an eternity away, but it will be here before we know it, and local gardeners are being invited to start getting ready by taking part in a seed swap next month.
Winkler’s first Seedy Saturday event takes place at the Winkler Centennial Library meeting room on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is free, and all are welcome, says organizer Yolanda Friesen of Prairie Harvest Flowers.
“Seedy Saturday is a seed exchange,” she explains. “It was started by Seeds of Diversity, which is a Canadian organization.”
Seeds of Diversity is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of seed varieties to strengthen our nation’s biodiversity. Seed exchanges are held in communities across the country every winter.
“Often if you buy a packet of seeds in the store, you may not use the whole thing,” Friesen observes. “Or maybe you’re saving your own seed from your garden, and then you get tons. So it’s just a way to share what you have with others, and then also get together and learn from each other.
“Those of us who garden are just waiting to get going,” she adds. “This is a chance to come together and talk about gardening and seeds.”
For each packet of seeds you bring (make sure they’re clearly labelled) you’ll walk away with a swapped packet in turn.
“So they’ll leave with as many seeds as they came with,” Friesen says.
The day will also feature displays set up by local experts eager to chat with people about a variety of gardening topics.
“We’re going to have a beekeeper there talking about pollinators and why they’re important and how to attract more pollinators to your garden,” Friesen says.
Other topics on the docket include winter sowing, soil blocking, no-till gardening, native plants, and natural dyeing methods.
There will also be several vendors on site, including those selling honey, yarn, and mini-garden terrariums. More vendors are welcome—it’s $5 for a table to help cover the costs of renting the meeting room.
“If anybody wants to set up a table, they can definitely let me know,” Friesen says, encouraging people to connect with her through the Winkler Seedy Saturday Facebook page or by email to prairieharvestflowers@gmail.com.
