Want to get an early start on your garden this year and looking for some seeds? Yellowhead Community Services’ Food Security Program has started a seed library.
Almost 250 packets of seed has been donated, including vegetables, flowers, herbs and even some seeds for sprouts. While some of the seed is commercial grade, most of them are locally sourced.
“Seed security is a huge part of food security and seed libraries help preserve local heritage varieties of seed, promote diversity and create locally adapted seed of our area’s growing conditions,” said Joanna Hurst, coordinator or YCS’ Food Security Program.
To “check out” seed, YCS is encouraging patrons to either replace the seed they take with some of their own or make a cash donation, though it isn’t necessary, she added.
“We want our seeds to be available to everyone.”
Those who donate are asked to package and clearly label the seeds with the seed type and variety, the year collected and who it was grown by. Additional information, such as a description, brief history and area it was grown, can be helpful as well.
As well, the traditional Seedy Saturday will look a bit different this year, as YCS will host a socially distanced seed swap drop box at the Dutch Lake Community Centre.
Seed swappers can use the North Thompson Gardeners Facebook group to connect and use the drop box at the DLCC to pick up their seeds.
The drop box program is available until April 30, 2021.
In addition, a virtual Seedy Saturday event will be broadcast from Feb. 19 to 21. There will be a great variety of speakers, including Dr. Vandana Shiva, world renowned food sovereignty advocate, community discussions and workshops. For those who would like to participate can register and view the schedule here www.bcseeds.org and follow the links at the top of the screen.
The Seed Library and Seed Swap drop boxes are located in the YCS office, from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12 to 1) and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 11 to 1), and at the DLCC. Envelopes are provided for the seeds as well as free gardening materials. Everyone will go home with a free packet of marigold seeds, too.
YCS would also like to remind everyone of their Soup Kettle Program, every Friday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Soup and buns are served by donation at the DLCC.
COVID-19 and the recent fire that damaged part of the DLCC gym have changed the way the meals are delivered the program, but they are still running! The program is now serving soup to go or delivered, and offer frozen soup for free at any time during office hours. Some of the frozen soup is also delivered to at risk seniors through YCS’ Better at Home program.
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