Staff
Local green thumbs can gear up for the gardening season as the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market here will be hosting a seed exchange on Feb. 13 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
“It’s just something fun to do in the winter when people are looking at seed catalogues,” Deb Cornell said of “Seedy Saturday,” where people can buy seeds donated by local growers and gardeners.
“Most people start ordering seeds around now, so it should be good timing,” she added.
Cornell said one of the benefits of this type of seed exchange is networking.
“The horticultural society will be participating and I think the community garden will be participating, so hopefully it will just connect a lot of people,” Cornell remarked.
For those new to gardening, or who have questions, there will be gardening advice and hand-outs available, she noted.
People also can pick up soil test kits.
Each packet of seeds will cost $1, with money raised going towards the renewal project of the courtyard gardens at Rainycrest, which the Fort Frances Horticultural Society has taken on.
“I think that [‘Seedy Saturday’ is] an opportunity for people to share seeds that they like—so seeds that have performed well here or that they see as useful,” Cornell explained.
“A lot of people collect seeds, so for people who aren’t collectors, [they will] be able to get some from others, from plants that they know perform well locally.”
As well, Cornell said the seed exchange means a chance to exchange and preserve heritage plants.
Along with buying seeds, people also are welcome to donate them, Cornell added, even if they aren’t associated with any of the participating groups.
Those donating seeds are being asked to place them in small envelopes (or styrofoam cups for larger seeds) in quantities that equal about $1 in value.
Along with each package, descriptions of the plant also are being requested, such as sowing instructions, where they grow best, colour, height, etc.
Every two packets of seeds donated can be exchanged for one new packet of choice.
Seeds should be dropped off at the farmers’ market (located on McIrvine Road just north of Canadian Tire) on Feb. 13 between 8 and 9 a.m.
Besides seeds, some of the regular market vendors also will be on hand and, hopefully, Valentine-type items, Cornell added.
In other news, a meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the farmers’ market building for people interested in supplying food boxes, as well as and for those interested in growing produce for a farmers’ market.
The guest speaker will be Christina Mol, an intern with the Food Security Network in Thunder Bay.
“[Mol]’s working on linking growers with northern communities,” Cornell noted. “She’s really only just started that, but she’s already done some interesting work.”
The agenda also tentatively includes statistics from 2009, “what produce are we short of?”, quality control, grower suggestions or concerns, and the Emo agricultural research station’s vegetable trial results.
Growers donating seeds for “Seedy Saturday” also can drop them off on the Friday evening.
