Groundswell and Home Hardware are happy to be a part of the seed saving and lending endeavors this year at the Invermere Public Seed Library, launched this past spring, The idea behind a seed library is to create a collection of regionally adapted seeds, ones that know how to grow in our climate. Seed libraries make seeds more accessible and can be a huge part of food and environmental sustainability. We can grow food for our families, friends, and food banks. We can find unexpected and beneficial places to grow (squashes in a ditch, anyone?). We can teach our youth how to grow their own food and build a hearty collection of heritage seeds for the valley!

How do we save seeds though?

While it depends on the crop, seed saving is not as hard as it sounds. There are lots of online resources (check out seeds.ca or seedsavers.org) but having hands-on teaching can make all the difference. Groundswell is hosting a Seed Saving 101 workshop with long-time valley gardener Gladys Hanson on Sept 17, 10 to 12, Invermere Public Library.
The workshop is $20/member, $25/non member and space is limited! Please register by emailing events@groundswellnetwork.ca or buy a ticket below.

Gladys Hanson has a fantastic wealth of seed-saving knowledge. Born into a family of gardeners in Kimberley, B.C, Gladys moved to the valley in 1960 and home gardened in Athalmer until moving her entire yard – soil, trees, perennials and fencing to Windermere.
She started to grow trees and perennial plants from seed to help fill her acreage. From pear, to plum, to apple and apricot. From peony, to petunia and pine, Gladys has only to see a living plant and she is eager to save the seeds and generate more. She is a true sustainable gardener with 100s of varieties of Heritage Plants.

If you want to attend the event or save seeds on your own, now is the time to prep! Check your garden for dried out beans, peas, flower heads, etc. that you want to grow next year or donate to the Seed Library at the Invermere Library. Look for plants bolting (going to seed/flowering) and allow them to dry out. Be sure to protect them from wildlife! Then, bring a few of those plants with you to the Seed Saving 101 workshop! Gladys will explain best ways to gather, store and save seeds for next year, and we’ll have a few crops for you to harvest from too. Then you can share what you learned with friends, help the library build up a community collection of seeds, and support food security and sustainability in the Valley. Who wouldn’t want to save seeds?!

Please bring: your garden journal and pen, water, clothes that can get a bit grubby as you work, any seeds you have from your own garden that you want to save and want Gladys advice on.