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By Angela Brown

Seed sharing

Get an early start on spring with ML’s Seedy Sunday

Mar 13, 2023 | 5:32 PM

Those with a green thumb or just a humble interest in gardening will want to stop by Meadow Lake’s annual Seedy Sunday.

The event will take place at Studio Three at 406 First Ave. W. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., March 19.

Willow Creek Community Garden and ML Seedy Sunday coordinator Pat Morley said the event will be a good opportunity to swap seeds, purchase or make a donation for more, and also learn some new gardening tips.

“It’s promoting gardening in the community, so we can be mutually supportive of one another,” she said. “We’re promoting some vendors that are coming to sell their own stuff. But our biggest [focus] is the seed exchange.”

People are invited to bring their own seeds to swap with other gardeners.

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“That’s the whole idea,” Morley said. “We’re promoting sharing, and exchanging extras. If they bring something, they can exchange it for something else that they need on the exchange table, or they can visit the vendors and purchase new seeds.”

Some of the popular items people can pick up include seeds to grow pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, celery, and peppers.

“And, there will be a whole whack of flowers people usually bring with seeds,” Morley added.

A number of guest speakers are also planning to participate, starting at 2 p.m.

Now retired agronomist Dave Cubbon will talk about garden pests and diseases. Carmen Howell will chat about pressure-canning tips; Rachelle Ternier with Prairie Garden Seeds will focus on seed saving; and Christine Simoens, a Willow Creek Community Garden board member, will discuss the benefits of dandelions.

Morley commented dandelions are good to have around for many reasons.

“They actually are one of the first pioneer grains. They came as a seed to our country. And, they grow so prolifically,” she said. “The whole plant is edible. They are very high in calcium and vitamins. They are one of the first flowers for our bees, which is really important. That’s why we really try to get people not to spray dandelions because the bees get killed from it.”

Morley added the reason dandelions have such large taproots is that they break up hard clay soil, and then they pull calcium up to the surface.

Among the benefits of the plant, its roots make a tasty, healthy tea when they are dried.

A number of vendors will have tables at Seedy Sunday, including Home Hardware, the event’s main sponsor, Knapp’s Heritage Seeds, Prairie Garden Seeds, Green Goddess Plants and Seeds, Tartan Skye Honey, and Simoens.

There is no cost to attend the event. People taking part will also be able to enjoy a coffee, tea or a quick snack during their visit.

Morley said there are always lots of benefits to sharing seeds, so she invites people to come out.

“It really promotes community,” she said. “The prices of everything have skyrocketed. [So,] we are also encouraging seed saving. When you save a lot of seeds you can’t use them all, so that’s one way to share them, and promote seed-saving.”

Morley noted when there is an opportunity to share seeds, it also makes it easier for people to access certain seeds they are looking for when they want them.

She added Seedy Sunday is also simply a great way to “build community.”

“It brings people together, especially to learn and grow,” she said. “You’re not just learning about gardening, you’re learning about a lot of different things. You build community by sharing and having community events.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @meadowlakenow