ERIN – The Erin Seed Library is hosting its annual Seedy Saturday this month.
“Seedy Saturdays or Sundays happen across Canada every spring to help gardeners get a good start,” said Erin Seed Library operator Jen Edwards, the face behind the event.
“There are seed vendors and exchanges and it is great to just see everyone after a long winter – even more so after a long pandemic.”
Community members can order online from local vendors until March 6.
Vendors include Arthur Greenhouse Seeds, Saturday Seed Company, Backyard Seed Savers, Willow Creek Maple Syrup, ESAC rainbarrels and turtle signs, Cedar Valle Honey, Little Deer Drive products, Cathy’s dahlia tubers, garden club memberships for Erin and Hillsburgh and the free Erin Seed Library – which has over 500 lines of inventory.
“It is to encourage more people to try growing for themselves, and to keep heirloom and heritage seeds in circulation,” Edwards said of the Seed Library.
“The collection is kept going by wonderful people who give some of their seeds back to the library every year.”
Orders can be picked up at Erin United Church, 115 Main St., on March 12 and the event runs from 10am to 3pm.
Last year, with the pandemic, Edwards did the pre-orders online and they were then picked up in the church parking lot.
She said this year, pre-orders can still be made to give people flexibility.
This year, Edwards was able to get a green light to use the church for vendor tables.
Virtual presentations from Seeds of Diversity in Waterloo, a supporter of Seedy Saturdays across Canada, will also be available March 12. They will address topics around seed saving, seed starting, food and climate change, heritage flower gardens and more.
“They are providing all the videos that will be available on March 12, and those links will stay on the seed library website so people can watch them when they have time,” Edwards explained.
“The purpose of the videos is education,” she added.
“There are a lot of new gardeners and new seed savers, and we want them all to be successful.”
There is also a movie, Modified, that has been made available.
The link is only available during the event, which Edwards noted will play in the church at noon.
Visit the www.erinseedleninglibrary.weebly.com for more information.
