麻豆传媒AV

A harbinger of spring! The second annual Seedy Saturday will be held in the Battlefords this Saturday, put together by local enthusiasts who organized a popular and well-attended event last year.

This year's Seedy Saturday will run from noon until 4 p.m. at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford, the same site as last year, bringing together gardeners, farmers and seed savers and growers who are enthusiastic about growing heirloom vegetables.

Organizers say it will be a "great opportunity to connect with other local gardeners, and learn more about the importance of growing heirloom varieties and the fun of experimenting with old seed varieties."

There will be seed vendors attending and there will also be a seed-trading table where you can bring your own heritage seeds to trade.

Following a Blessing of the Seeds by Anglican priest Shawn Sanford Beck of Cochin, at 12:30 p.m., three workshops will be held throughout the afternoon.

At 1 p.m., Karen Pedersen of Pedersen Apiaries of Cut Knife, will present a workshop on bees and pollination.

At 2 p.m., Marcella Pedersen of Pedersen Apiaries, who is also the National Farmers' Union women's vice-president, will present a workshop on food sovereignty.
At 3 p.m. there will be a presentation by Jim and Rachelle Ternier of Prairie Garden Seeds of Humboldt Seed Saving.

Organizers say admission is free, but donations are most welcome. A hot lunch will be available with donation.

There will also be children's activities.

As Maureen Troesch said in the Feb. 20 Regional Optimist Garden Chat column presented by the Perennial Society of Saskatchewan, seed saving was once about thrifty old-time gardeners looking to save money on their annual seed bill. However, she wrote, the majority of modern seed collectors are motivated more by their desire to preserve our planet's ever-shrinking genetic resources than by financial concerns.
Seeds of Diversity Canada, the charitable organization dedicated to the conservation, documentation and use of public domain, non-hybrid plants of Canadian significance, is a proponent of these kinds of events.

It says, "Seedy Saturdays' grassroots nature - low overhead, low admission, local talent, and volunteer energy - distinguishes them from expensive, commercially driven garden shows. Attendees are able to contribute, not just consume."

Across Canada, Seedy Saturday events have been increasing every year, with over 110 held in 2013. This is the Battlefords second year, and Saskatoon held its 16th this year as interest continues to "grow."