June 2015
Happy Pollinator Week!
Pollinator Week is June 15-21 this year, so take a moment to thank a bee for the fruit, nuts, vegetables, juice, and most of the delicious flavours in your food.
What can YOU do for pollinators? The very best thing you can do is plant for them. Habitat loss is one of the largest stressors responsible for the decline of our bee-loved pollinators, so plant just one pollinator-friendly species, or plant a whole field. Plant native species, or plant species that you know are laden with pollen and nectar. Scroll down to find out more!
Pollinator Week is Here!
Pollination Canada is celebrating last week's decision by the Ontario government to formally become the first jurisdiction in North America to significantly reduce the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. You may remember that we wrote about the draft proposal in earlier this year. You can read the formal announcement, and find out more the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators.
Are Gardeners Accidentally Killing Bees?
Well, I recently found out that I might be accidentally killing bees and I’m not happy about it. I’ll explain by telling you about my recent trip.
This spring I visited my friend in Vancouver. The spring flowers were thriving and my friend, a keen gardener, showed me her garden with pride. The crocus, snowdrops and daffodils were all in bloom and the tulips were in bud.
Seedy Profile: Preston Idea Exchange
I’ve been to the post office more times than I can count this year. Often I have a large bag filled with fifteen or twenty envelopes, all packed with seeds, and addressed to people across the country. Other times I might just be dropping off a small packet of 25 bean seeds. So where’s it all going?
How to Keep a Potato Collection Without Any Digging
There are hundreds of really interesting heritage potato varieties worth growing, but most of them are difficult to find. When you find one that you like, it often makes sense to grow it year-by-year because you might not be able to find it again. The problem is, once you have a good collection of varieties, you have to plant them all every spring, and dig them all every summer. Potatoes aren't like seeds that can be put on a shelf for a few years - you can't take a break - they have to be grown continuously.
Here's a method that makes it much easier. You can keep a collection of dozens of potato varieties in a small space, with no digging, no potato beetles, and hardly any effort.
In this issue
Are Gardeners Accidentally Killing Bees?
Seedy Profile: Preston Idea Exchange
How to Keep a Potato Collection Without Any Digging
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NEW CONTACT INFO
We have a new mailing address:
Seeds of Diversity
40-304 King St S,
Waterloo, ON
N2J1N8
And a new phone number: 226-600-7782 (our previous number will be in service until July 27th).
UPCOMING SEED WORKSHOPS
Organic Potato Trials Field Day
Laepple Organic Farm
Monday, July 6, 2015
1:30pm - 4:30pm
2298 Bleams Road, Petersburg, ON
Growing Diversified Heritage Grains
Ironwood Organics
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
1:00pm - 4:00pm
446 Lower Oak Leaf Rd, Athens, ON
Growing Diversified Heritage Grains
Winchelsea Farm
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
9:30am - 12:00pm
2147 Jennings Road, RR#2, Mountain, ON
Growing Diversified Heritage Grains
Castor River Farm
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
1:30pm - 4:30pm
2696 9th Line Road, Metcalfe, ON
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