It’s certainly the weather for dreaming about springtime garden planning! Here are details of a few local (and local-ish) upcoming Seedy Saturdays:
Denman Island Seedy Saturday
Saturday, January 27, 2024: 10 am to 2pm
Denman Island Community Hall
Trade table, seed vendors, local garden-related volunteer organizers, guest speakers including talk on local corn and masa making, medicinal herbals, plastic-free living
More information: Denman Island Growers and Producers website: https://www.denmangpa.ca/seedy-saturday
20th Annual Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday
Saturday February 3, 2024: 10 am - 3:30 pm
747 Jones St
Qualicum Beach, BC
“Seeding the Future” is the theme of the 20th Annual Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday event. Featuring a large hall full of seed vendors, plant vendors, and other participants; in addition to other vendors and exhibits outside. Other activities include the ever popular Seed Swap, door prizes and two 50/50 draws, expert gardening advice from Master Gardeners and the Seedy Cafe. There will also be a Town of Qualicum Beach truck on site to collect unwanted pesticides and herbicides. Admission by donation.
More information: www.qbseedysaturday.ca
Alberni Valley Seedy Saturday
Saturday February 10, 2024: 10 am - 2 pm
Cedar Room in the Echo Center, located at 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni.
This year’s event will be hosted by the Alberni Valley Food Security Society.
More information: https://www.avfood.ca/
Saanich Seedy Saturday
Saturday February 10, 2024: 10 am - 2 pm
5358 Sparton Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2H5
Saanich, BC
New larger venue, workshops, seed swap, book and tools swap, door prizes, children’s activities. Entry by donation. Support regional seed security and food resilience.
More information: @haliburton_farm or https://www.facebook.com/events/2519475994800374/
Salt Spring Island Seedy Saturday
Saturday February 17, 2024: 10 am - 3 pm
Salt Spring Farmers Institute, 351 Rainbow Road
Salt Spring Island, BC
Island Natural Growers is pleased to present Salt Spring’s 29th annual Seedy Saturday event! There will be local seed and plant vendors, community groups, free educational workshops by local growers, seed swap table and a kid’s area. Admission is by donation. A wonderful community event of learning and excitement!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/saltspring.seedysaturday
Victoria Seedy Sunday
Sunday February 25, 2024: 10 am - 2 pm
901 & 950 Kings Rd.
Victoria, BC
Victoria Seedy Sunday is back! Join us at the Quadra Village Community Centre and Neighbourhood Gym for a family-friendly, fun filled event!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSeedySaturday
Seedy Saturday Comox Valley
Saturday March 2, 2024: 10 am - 3 pm
Florence Filberg Centre 411 Anderton Ave
Courtenay, BC
Seedy Saturday Comox Valley is turning 25 this year. Join the Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers Society and 40 vendors at the Florence Filberg Centre for seeds, supplies and information. Food and snacks are available on site. The seed exchange will also be selling and swapping a variety of locally collected seeds.
More information: https://cvgss.org/
Nanaimo Seedy Sunday
Sunday March 3, 2024: 10 am - 3 pm
Nanaimo District Secondary School (355 Wakesiah Avenue)
Nanaimo, BC
60 confirmed vendors with an array of seeds, plants, locally made produced and information galore! So mark you calendars for March 3rd and we hope to see you there.
More information: www.nanaimofoodshare.ca/programs/seedy-sunday/
West Coast Seedy Saturday
Saturday March 9, 2024: 11 am - 3 pm
431 Gibson Street
Tofino, BC
Community seed swap and seedling sale, with music, videos, and art activities to promote local growing, seed stewardship, and community connections on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
More information: @Tofinocommunityfoodinitiative, www.tofinocommunityfoodinitiative.com/events
Duncan Seedy Sunday
Sunday March 24, 2024: 10 am - 2 pm
Si’em’ Lelum Gymnasium, 5574 River Rd. Duncan
Duncan, BC
Join us for our annual spring seed market featuring seeds and plants from local farmers, kid’s activities, food trucks, workshops, and community fun!
More information: www.cowichangreencommunity.org
Sooke Food CHI Seedy Saturday
Saturday March 30, 2024: 10 am - 3 pm
Sooke Community Hall
Sooke, BC
Last year was a huge success; many indoor vendors, 3 outdoors, community Fall Fair kitchen, Kids activities, a few non-profit tables
More information: https://www.sookefoodchi.ca/…/2012-sooke-region-fruit…
Its interesting to note that, according to Seeds of Diversity, a Canadian organization dedicated to protecting seed diversity, the first Seedy Saturday took place at the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver in 1990, following concerns surrounding the practice of the production of seeds by very few companies, lack of public input, farmer participation and shared ownership of seeds. Now, there are over 170 Seedy Saturdays held in Canada every year, with over a quarter of them taking place in BC.