Spring is coming to Golden, just as we expect it to every year. And, as we would expect, another one of Golden’s Annual Seed Swaps is being planned to help local gardeners to kickstart their food growing plans.
Be sure to come out to the Annual Golden Seed Swap at the Civic Centre on Saturday, March 15. Bring your seeds to share; if you don’t have seeds to swap, there will be extra seeds to take home. Help us by bringing your own envelopes to take seeds home and/or cash to donate to cover expenses.
Over the past many years of Seed Swap events here in Golden, we have been able to share seeds donated by a few local gardeners who harvest excess from their gardens. The idea was that people taking seeds would grow their vegetables as well as collect seeds to bring back to swap the next year. Unfortunately, with few returns, the original seed supply is now diminishing and we are working to replenish our seed bank and continue sharing.
At this Seed Swap, we will be looking for people who will pledge to try to grow seeds from their gardens using seed swap seeds or their own.
It is not difficult to grow out seeds but certain details must be attended to so that plants are not cross-pollinated or collected at the wrong time. Support will be provided to these seed growers throughout the gardening season and we hope to rebuild our bank of locally grown seeds. We want to reach the point where we can maintain a supply and variety of excellent seeds that are adapted to our unique conditions in this part of the Columbia Valley. This adds a layer of resilience to our community as we face challenging conditions such as climate change and developments in the political and larger economic realms.
“Think globally and act locally” is the way to approach this annual event.
On March 15, come out to the Golden Seed Swap. Bring your seeds to share, meet and learn from successful gardeners, catch up with your food growing friends, and give consideration to becoming a seed grower.
