By Mary Lowther
This year I’m going to try different seed companies. I’ll continue buying bulk seeds like onion sets and beans from Borden Mercantile in Victoria, various seeds from Salt Spring Seeds, and try out a couple more. There’s a directory of B.C. seeds on the internet that looks interesting, and packets of seeds on store racks won’t have been out of storage for too long and may be worth buying.
The Cowichan Green Community has a seed library that welcomes anyone to stop by and swap seeds any time they are open (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). They are located at 2431 Beverley St. in Duncan. Bring your properly saved seeds to exchange.
The Green Community is also holding virtual workshops on Jan. 30, starting at 10 a.m. for those who have Zoom camera capability. Topics include soil health, cultivating and processing herbs, meadow making and hydroponics. One can buy tickets for these workshops through the Cowichan Green Community’s Seedy Saturday website. During February, seeds will be available at the reFRESH Marketplace at 360 Duncan St. and online at cow-op.ca
Because some seed companies have stopped taking orders due to lower staffing levels because of COVID protocols, we have even more reason to save our own seeds if at all possible. Learn how to isolate seeds you want to save so their progeny will grow true, and find out how to store them to keep them viable. The Cowichan Green Community works hard to keep their seed exchange vital and if we support them by swapping our own robust, well stored seeds with them, we won’t be so dependent on outside sources.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Duncan Seedy Saturday is going virtual this year! Join us for a day of workshops about gardening, soil health, herbalism and native plants!
The day will feature four hour-long virtual Zoom workshops, featuring our Cowichan Green Community team. Feel free to join us for one or two of the workshops, or for the entire day!
Purchase tickets on Eventbrite!