Seedy Saturday–March 5th

Written by guest blogger Denise Deby, who writes on local and global social and environmental issues.

Snow is still on the ground, but it’s never too early to be thinking about gardening – or local, organic food.

USC Canada is holding its “Seedy Saturday” on Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. The event takes place at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park. Admission is free; OC Transpo bus 16 will take you there.

At Seedy Saturday, you can:

• Exchange or buy seeds;

• Get gardening tips;

• Meet USC’s Kate Green and hear about ecological agriculture in Canada and overseas;

• Watch a 12:30 pm screening of Saving the Seed: Farmers in Honduras and the struggle for seed sovereignty, a 20-minute film followed by a discussion on common challenges for seeds, food, and farming in Canada and the Global South;

• Attend an introductory mini-workshop on seed saving by Seeds of Diversity Canada;

• Hear Janette Haase talk about her book From Seed to Table;

• Learn about “square foot gardening”;

• Meet Seedy Saturday organiser and seed farmer Greta Kryger of Greta’s Organic Gardens. Greta donates seed that USC distributes for free across Canada as part of its Seed Saviour program;

• Check out local groups like Just Food and Canadian Organic Growers, as well as local businesses that cater to gardeners and farmers, and sample food from local vendors.

USC Canada promotes food and livelihood security and healthy ecosystems. While USC’s focus is on small-scale farmers in the Global South, it recognises that food security and crop genetic diversity are global issues. According to USC, the world has lost almost 75% of crop varieties, and North America has lost 90% of its fruit and vegetable varieties over the past century, meaning a less stable food supply for Canadians as well. USC’s seed programs focus on enhancing biodiversity and food sovereignty.

USC emphasises the critical role that seed saving and seed diversity play in ensuring a stable global food supply:

“Farmers have accumulated a deep knowledge of thousands of plant varieties they’ve nurtured to survive and thrive in all kinds of conditions – including the extremes of climate change. These tiny packets of life carry a priceless inheritance. Each one of these seeds holds infinite potential; deep wells of genetic variety and adaptation nurtured over time. They are the seeds of our survival.”

For more information about Seedy Saturday, call 613-234-6827 ext. 228.

For more about the USC, check out their video: