May 2017
Help Us Save Canada's Heritage Seeds
When you plant your garden this year, plan some space for saving seeds. There's no better time to prepare than at the beginning of the season, and there so many wonderful heritage varieties to choose from.
The trouble is, most of those varieties are only available from a few sources each, and if people don't save their seeds, those varieties will disappear before long. Save a variety by saving seeds this year and sharing some with another gardener.
By joining Seeds of Diversity, you can get connected with seed savers all across Canada who offer thousands of varieties to other gardeners, encouraging you to do the same.
During the month of June, you can help even more by donating to Seeds of Diversity through CanadaHelps in the Great Canadian Giving Challenge.
Every dollar donated this way not only helps us save more seeds, and gives you a charitable tax receipt, but it earns us another vote toward the Great Canadian Giving Challenge's grand prize of $10,000.
We all win with every donation!
How to Plan a Seed Saving Garden for Beginners
It might seem that seed saving is an activity for late summer when there are actual seeds to save, but success depends upon good planning, especially at planting time. Different varieties of plants can be cross pollinated by wind or insects, and it is crucial to separate them from each other so that your saved seeds remain "true-to-type". In other words, so that pollen doesn't travel between varieties and mix up the genetics.
Growing Seedy Saturdays and Sundays
Like many other seed savers and gardeners, you may have attended your local Seedy Saturday or Sunday in the past few months. If you don’t know about them, these are annual events that take place across the country, during which people get together to swap seeds, especially those of heirloom varieties or varieties that have been in families for years, if not several generations.
Is it a Bee, Wasp or Fly?
As you're puttering outside in the warmer weather, you're likely to notice several different insects whizzing past you. Perhaps you'll spy some alighting on blossoms in your garden. If you're curious to know which winged critter you're looking at, we've prepared a little primer to help you distinguish if you are looking at a bee, wasp or fly.
The Red Seeded Citron Melon
Of all the heritage fruits and vegetables that were once indispensible but now nearly forgotten, the Red Seeded Citron melon is one of the most fascinating. It was widely grown by families all across the country only a few generations ago, but most gardeners haven't seen one since the 1930s or 40s.
In this issue
How to Plan a Seed Saving Garden for Beginners
Growing Seedy Saturdays and Sundays
Not yet a member?
An annual membership to Seeds of Diversity gives you access to our seed exchange, seed grow-out programs, and our online news.
SEEDY EVENTS
On Farm Plant Breeding
Wednesday, June 14, 9am - 4pm
Cowichan Green
Duncan, BC
Kale Breeding Workshop
Wednesday June 14, 9am - 4pm
Cowichan Green Community
Duncan, BC
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