Since 1994, Victoria Seedy Saturday (VSS) has beckoned gardening enthusiasts from across the Capital Region with seeds and plants of all sorts.
This year's by-donation event will take place on Feb. 15 at Crystal Garden, where over 50 local vendors will offer attendees a diverse range of gardening supplies. Free educational talks will teach beginner and seasoned gardeners alike about seed planting. Kids are welcome to attend, too, and a series of youth-focused activities will help encourage young gardeners.
"As the second oldest Seedy Saturday in the world, the event fosters connections between gardeners, seed savers, farmers and environmental organizations," said VSS in a news release. "It serves as a hub for seed exchanging, a marketplace for locally grown and climate-adapted seeds and plants and a venue for both formal and informal learning about gardening, climate-resilient food growing and ecological stewardship."
Last year, over 1,100 attended the gathering.
“As a thirty-something individual living through my first economic downturn as an adult, I’ve been more motivated than ever to grow my own food, support local businesses and build resiliency in the face of the climate and housing crisis," one attendee said in the same news release. "This was my first year attending Victoria Seedy Saturday, and I can’t think of an event better positioned to help me build resilience, community and food security.”
VSS organizers hope this year's event space will welcome even more attendees.
“This new, larger and more accessible venue will provide the space needed to accommodate more attendees, increase vendor participation and offer expanded opportunities for educational talks," said Lisa Small, Victoria Seedy Saturday's coordinator – also in the same news release. “It’s a step forward in ensuring that more people can engage with this vital event and walk away with the knowledge and resources they need to grow their own food."
To find out more about the event, visit: events.downtownvictoria.ca/event/victoria-seedy-saturday.
