The Richmond Food Security Society presents the 4th annual Seedy Saturday at Terra Nova Rural Park on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The event unofficially kicks off the gardening year, where gardeners purchase or trade for new seed varieties. This year, the event is so controversial that Facebook erased the event page.
"At first we thought they were objecting to the use of the word 'seedy,'" said coordinator Erika Simms. "Then we finally realized that one of the activities, making seed 'bombs' with kids, had triggered some computer algorithm to pull the site."
Simms is emphatic that the activity is in no way underhanded and just involves rolling clay and wildflower seed into balls.
Next Saturday, Harold Steves and Tatiana's Tomatoes display a selection of heirloom seeds to try, while Derry Walsh provides a number of fruit trees. Edibles Only brings a variety of nut trees and persimmons from their nursery in Squamish.
Other products for sale include shiitake and oyster mushroom kits, honey and mason bee products, and a variety of kelp-based products on sale. Local activist De Whalen will sell composted horse manure and red wiggler worms for anyone wanting to start a worm bin.
In addition to the products for sale, the Richmond Food Security Society unveils its mobile seed library next Saturday. Like a regular library, residents can "check out" seeds with the hopes that after growing the seed for a season, some of the seeds will be saved and returned to the library as a "deposit". Local organizations can also ask to borrow the library for any events where people might be interested in trying out gardening.
Seedy Saturday Richmond is part of a nation-wide movement to encourage communities to save seeds adapted to the local climate. For more information about this year's event, contact Erika Simms at 604 244-7377 or at [email protected].
