‘Tis the Seed Season

Posted on Sunday, 12 April 2026 under Stories Featured

We have been busy chatting up gardeners and growers at Seedy Saturdays across the province. BC is a hotbed for Seedy Saturdays and Sundays, and we think it’s a great way to keep our regional seed and food systems strong and resilient. We love being able to connect with everyone about the crops we’ve grown for the BC Eco Seed Co-op, and share seed saving knowledge with presentations and demonstrations. The only thing buzzier than a field of phacelia in summer is a seed swap table in spring.

Qualicum Beach was the first of the Seedy Saturdays that Lisa, our Vancouver Island Coordinator, attended. It was super busy! And we were able to bring a variety of seed cleaning equipment to show seed buyers the process from dried plant to seed.

Paige Deedman, a UVic student volunteer working with Lisa, shows seed cleaning technique with our debearder to the younger generation of farmers.

The Victoria Seedy Saturday event was packed. It was a full day of chatting and selling seeds with a well attended session on Introductory Seed Saving.

Lisa Willott, our Vancouver Island coordinator. Photo credit Karissa Chandrakate

Seedy Saturday on Salt Spring Island was a lovely gathering, and a Seed Symposium held on the following day was a highlight. With guidance and organization by Sheila Dobie and Rupert Adams from the Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary, Bejay Mills, the Central Island agrologist, Fern and Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds, we were grateful for the invitation to talk about our seed work with FarmFolk CityFolk. A passionate group of Gulf Islanders gathered to come up with solutions and strategies for better community seed sovereignty and security.

Salt Spring Island Seedy Saturday