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Not a Seeds of Diversity Member yet? Join now!In this Issue: The Buzz on the Guelph Organic Conference Pollinator Patch - Flower Flies ECOSGN: Producing Canadian Organic Seed
Find Seed!!Member Seed DirectoryA gardeners' candy store! Wonderberry...Old Time Looney Lettuce...Green Sausage Tomato...Strawberry Spinach....Early Moonbeam Watermelon...mmmmm.... For members only! Online DatabasesCanadian Seed Catalogue Inventory - Fruit & veg seeds sold by Canadian seed companys. Findorganicseed.ca - Canadian, organic seed Seedy SaturdaysList your event for free or check our events page for the one nearest you!
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February 2013
We've been selected as an inspirational charity for the Nature's Bounty contest. Vote for us daily until March 29th - the more votes we get, the better chance of receiving <$50,000 donation!
Earlier this month, Ontario Seeds of Diversity staff attended the Guelph Organic Conference. If you're one of the new ebulletin recipients from that event - welcome! We'll do our best to keep you up to date with news, events, ideas and stories about seeds and pollinators across the country. This month, learn about flower flies - a lesser known group of pollinators; consider some of the factors affecting soil health in urban gardens; and be inspired by the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network (ECOSGN).
Don't forget that Seedy Saturdays continue over the next couple of months across the country - watch for dates on our events listing. We love getting photos and stories from events to share in the newsletter or on facebook.
The Buzz on the Guelph Organic Conference
We had a fabulous weekend at the Guelph Organic Conference Feb 1-3rd. Thanks to the many of you who came by our table to visit - we really enjoyed the conversations we had. Stimulating ideas...good questions... For the many of you who signed up for our ebulletin and are receiving this for the first time, WELCOME! If you'd like to receive our magazine and gain access to the thousands of seed varieties in our Member Seed Directory, join us
Pollinator Patch - Flower Flies
If you see a flower fly in passing, you would most likely believe it was a bee, hornet or wasp and dodge out of the way. Some of these creatures, like the yellow jacket mimic Sphecomyia vittata, have adopted such convincing patterns that even predators give them a wide berth. Although this deception is only skin deep, it allows them to carry out their day-to-day activities of pollination all the more effectively.
Soil Contamination 101
Unfortunately, cities haven’t necessarily been designed to accommodate agriculture, and gardening has had to find its place among a variety of other urban activities. Thus, the premises used for gardening are sometimes not as healthy as one might like. Some people have been sounding the alarm ... the ground beneath our gardens is perhaps not as "natural" and clean as you think! Here is some information on what contaminates soil and how to avoid serving up heavy metals on your plate.
ECOSGN: Producing Canadian Organic Seed
The Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network (ECOSGN) is a project of Seeds of Diversity whose aim is to protect and enhance an economically viable and ecologically sustainable organic seed supply for Eastern Canada. Federal standards require the use of certified organic seeds on organic farms in Canada, but the supply of Canadian-produced organic seeds has not grown to meet the rapidly expanding market. ECOSGN is working to change this by creating a network of farmers helping farmers produce more high-quality certified organic Canadian seeds.