February 2015

It's Seedy Saturday & Sunday Season!

It's that wonderful time of year when gardeners and seed savers across the country are beginning to plan their gardens, perusing catalogues, and ordering new seeds (and in some parts of the country, even starting seedlings!). It's also the time when Seedy Saturday and Sunday events are taking place across the country, from coast to coast... and there's probably one near you!

This year, Seeds of Diversity members have already listed over 110 events across the country on our website. Find out where and when the event closest to you is taking place. Seedy Saturdays and Sundays are fun, inexpensive events where you can swap and exchange seeds, get exciting varieties that other seed savers are sharing (as well as the stories that come with them!), attend workshops and talks, meet vendors and buy seeds from seed companies. Whether you are a first-time or master gardener, seed enthusiast or expert seed saver, there really is something for everyone. The full list of events is at seeds.ca/events.

The first issue of our 2015 member magazine will be in the mail later this week, and your 2015 member seed directories should have reached you by now. If you haven't yet, join or renew today! Visit seeds.ca/member.

Saving Savory

Those of you who have used summer savory in your cooking before already know how delicious it is. According to one of our members, however, there is one variety of summer savory that is particularly special, and the story that goes with it definitely is.

In 2012, Seeds of Diversity member Jocelyne Gauvin noticed a variety of summer savory (Satureja hortensis), called Ancienne d’Acadie, in the Seeds of Diversity member directory. Jocelyne, who lives in Cocagne, NB, wrote to Norbert Robichaud, the member who was offering to share it, and requested some seed. 

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What's your favourite seed variety?

Whenever I hear a new variety name, I always wonder who named it, and why they named it what they did. Does the name describe a certain characteristic of that variety? Is it named after the family who’s been growing it for years? Or the place it was first grown?

Every variety has an interesting story. Take the Pollock tomato for example. Andy Pollock, who adapted this variety, has a unique and isolated garden. What makes it unique is that it is situated at an altitude of three thousand feet, and a short distance north of the fifty-fourth parallel.

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Time to celebrate seeds… good healthy seeds!

As a farmer who has been involved in the food movement for the past 15 years, I am amazed at the speed the movement for healthy, local foods has grown. However, I cannot help but notice how one crucial element is often missing from the conversation. Seeds. Not just any seeds. Good seeds. 

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Seed Libraries: a book review

When we heard there was going to be a new book about Seed Libraries, we were only too happy to see an advance copy for review. Cindy Conner's new book, published by New Society Publishers, goes far beyond the basics of organizing a public seed collection. It covers topics ranging from the important reasons for preserving seed varieties, to practical aspects of managing storage, labelling, budgets, photography, and even how to host a seed library launch party and ongoing seedy movie nights.

There are many kinds of seed libraries, and it's impossible to generalize them. Seeds of Diversity's own Seed Library was founded before the movement became popular.

Read more...

In this issue

Saving Savory

What's your favourite seed variety?

Time to celebrate seeds… good healthy seeds!

Seed Libraries: a book review

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