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Volunteers at Seedy Saturdays and Seedy Sundays

Seedy Saturday and Seedy Sunday events have, for decades, been important venues for gathering, swapping, exchanging, and buying seeds, getting exciting varieties that other seed savers are sharing (as well as the stories that come with them), attending workshops and talks, and meeting vendors of all kinds. Anyone who has attended a Seedy event knows what we’re talking about - they’re fun, lively hubs of connection and sharing!

All of this means that we like being there, too! They are a wonderful chance to inform thousands of gardeners about our own seedy story, and share information about the importance of preserving our seed heritage.

So, this National Volunteer Week, we would like to highlight and thank our dedicated Seedy Saturday and Seedy Sunday volunteers. As you might be able to imagine, our staff team of six (mostly part-time) individuals does not have the capacity to attend dozens of events every year. We rely heavily on volunteers to represent us by staffing display tables at events from coast to coast. Our volunteers ensure that we are able to have a presence at many of the 150+ events that occur across the country. Our volunteers are responsible for staffing a Seeds of Diversity table, offering information to visitors about who we are, what we do, and where to go for more information.

Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and bring a range of skills and expertise to these events. Some are experienced gardeners and seed savers who can offer valuable advice and insights to fellow gardeners, while others are simply eager to be a friendly face in sharing information about what we do. All are welcome and invited!

At 2024 Seedy Saturdays & Sundays, we were incredibly fortunate to have volunteers at more than 30 events across five provinces, as well as nearly 20 event organizers who offered to set up displays on our behalf. We are so grateful! Those who dedicated their time and efforts to representing us include:

Dana - Hamilton and Grimsby ON
Joy and Kathie - Qualicum Beach BC
Dan - Port Alberni BC
Ken - Saanich BC
Joan - Niagara ON
Wilma - Mississauga and Brampton ON
Lauren - Penticton BC
Rosina - Victoria BC
Frances - London ON
Duncan - Shuswap BC
Annie - New Glasgow NS
Rachelle - Nanaimo BC
Elaine - Cawston BC
Jessica - Guelph and Centre Wellington ON
Byron and Kaley - Tofino BC*
Jane - Peterborough ON
Doug - East Vancouver BC
Shiying - New Tecumseth ON
Rebecca - Guelph ON
Elaine - Calgary AB
Anne - Haldimand ON
Greta - Ottawa ON and several other events in eastern Ontario and Quebec
Gord, Maria, and the rest of the team - several GTA events (including Mississauga, Toronto, Scarborough)

… and others!

*The Tofino event was postponed at the last moment, but Byron and Kaley were ready to go!

Does this sound like something you’d like to take part in next year? We would love to hear from you! Get in touch with us at seedysaturdays@seeds.ca and we’ll add you to our volunteer list for 2025 Seedy events. They’ll be here before we know it!

Table setup in Almonte ON, courtesy of Greta Kryger