The Ladner Community Garden Society is getting ready to present its first Seedy Saturday event.
Billed as a chance for people to share, sell and swap their heritage seeds and stories, the Seedy Saturday & Garden Expo is set for Saturday, Jan. 28 at Ladner Baptist Church.
"We thought we'd put one on and see how it goes," says Ladner
Community Garden Society president Kristin Crouch.
"It should be a fun day," she adds.
Seedy Saturday events, the first of which took place in Vancouver in 1989, have spread across the country.
The upcoming Ladner event will feature seed suppliers, plant specialists and guest speakers.
"We're trying to introduce people to seeds," says Crouch.
Those who attend are encouraged to bring their own seeds and take part in a seed swap.
"Often when you buy a package of seeds, there'll be 1,000 seeds in the package. Nobody needs 1,000.
You won't use the seeds up fast enough," she says. "We encourage people to bring leftover seed. Package it up and label it and trade it for something they might like better."
Crouch plans on bringing over 100 packages of seeds herself.
"I am a confessed seed-aholic," she jokes.
Presentations on the day will include Tatiana Kouchnareva from Tatiana's Tomato Base talking about growing tomatoes in containers; Brian Campbell from Blessed Bee Farm talking about seeds and bees; Bill Bischoff talking about hardy cyclamen; and Don Bruchet talking about an introduction to seeds.
Displays will be provided by the Corporation of Delta, Bartlett Tree Services, Blessed Bee Farm, Tatiana's Tomato Base, Langley Environmental Partners Society, Urban Bee Supplies, Bill Bischoff, Stellar Seeds, Natural Landscape Solutions, Sunnyside Nursery, Rock Yark, Sungod Community Garden, Ladner Community Garden, the Kelp Man, Derry's Orchard and Nursery, Wild Ginger Designs, Bud's n Petals and Distinctive Perennials.
"It should be good. It's sort of a kick off for the gardening season," says Crouch.
The group is looking at holding a Seedy Saturday on an annual basis, she notes.
"If this goes off well, we'll do it every single year."
The Ladner Community Garden presents the Seedy Saturday & Garden Expo on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ladner Baptist Church, 5624 Ladner Trunk Rd. Admission is by donation. Door prizes, including a number of items donated by vendors at the event, will be given out. For more information visit www.ladnercommunitygarden.blogspot. com.
If you're interested in volunteering at the event, contact Crouch at 6049468654.
. The Ladner Community Garden at Kensington Park has got off to a good start.
"At the community garden we had 46 allotments and 43 of the people had never grown food before," says Crouch. "I think nearly everybody was successful."
The garden, established to provide Delta residents with the opportunity to grow healthy and nutritious food for themselves and the local food bank, had its grand opening last June.
The group will have information about plots potentially opening up this spring at its table at the Seedy Saturday event.
