In partnership with the The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, the Peterborough Community Garden Network (PCGN) and Nourish are leading two innovative seed-saving projects: a Community Seed Library and a Seed Savers Collective. Both projects are designed to increase the diversity, quality, and resiliency of regional seed production in the Kawarthas.
Join us on Thursday September 18th from 11:00am-5pm to learn more about these projects by visiting the amazing seed-saving initiatives in urban gardens across Peterborough City and County and to learn how to integrate seed production into market gardens. Transportation and lunch (and a light snack) will be provided. Meet at the Lift Lock Community Garden at 11:00am. Parking is available at the Lift Lock Visitors Centre (353 Hunter St. E) Head to the back of the parking lot and walk down the hill to the garden. Transportation for the remainder of the tour will be provided from, and return to this site. Cars can be left here for the duration of the tour.
The event is free, but space is limited, so sign up today! Contact Jill Bishop at 705.745.3238 x 204 pcgn@greenup.on.ca
We will be touring six gardens in the region:
- Lift Lock Community Garden (Meet at the garden at 11:00am for a garden tour & lunch): We have been working with gardeners to learn about growing and saving seed in community gardens and small spaces. Gardeners are saving corn, bean, amaranth and more for seed!
- urbantomato’s seed saving garden (12:15pm): This borrowed urban backyard is the main site for a small urban seed company’s garden. urbantomato is a small local seed company that grows and saves seeds from many varieties of tomatoes and peppers as well as beans, greens, herbs, grains and more.
- St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School Alternative Garden (1:00pm) Local teacher Blair Sawa has transformed the space between two portables into a lush and beautiful teaching garden. Blair has been growing and saving garlic as well as pepper, tomato, bean, and grain seed with his students.
- Robinson Place Urban Grain Seed Garden (1:45pm): We have been growing quinoa, barley, rye, wheat and other veggies for seed in this urban rooftop garden. Its isolation makes it perfect site for experimenting with seed saving for many crops.
- Urban Backyard Garden (2:30pm): A young family has transformed their urban backyard garden into a beautiful garden where they are growing vegetables for both eating and saving seed. Seed from both bi-annual and annual crops are being saved in this garden.
- Circle Organics Community Farm (3:45pm): This gorgeous organic farm rests atop a hill in the Kawarthas. They are experimenting with integrating seed saving into their mixed vegetable production. Farmers Andrew and Julie have been growing spelt for seed. The seed was passed to them by a neighbour who has grown and collected the seed for 60 years.
We will aim to be back at the Lift Lock Community Garden by 5 pm.
