Hundreds of gardeners from across Vancouver Island gathered at Victoria’s Crystal Garden to discuss all things gardening at Seedy Saturday.
Seedy Saturday started in 1994 as a way for people to exchange seeds from their own gardens.
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Lisa Small, Victoria Seedy Saturday Coordinator, says over the years the event has grown drastically to include all things gardening.
“This year we have over 70 vendors selling seeds, plants, gardening supplies with information booths, we have speaker sessions,” Small said.
She says there were education booths and sessions of invasive plants, composting, soil biology, drought tolerance and seed saving.
About 2,000 people were expected to walk through the Crystal Garden doors over the course of the five-hour event.
Small says the event’s popularity seems to grow every year, which could be linked to the rising cost of living.
“With food costs on the rise, Victoria Seedy Saturday is more important than ever,” Small said.
According to Food Banks Canada more than one in four people across the country live with food insecurity, with 25 per cent of homes who rely on food banks being two parent households.
Metchosin Farm, a local seed producer, says it has seen an uptick in people looking for seeds and plant starts in order to grow some of their own food.
“When you grow stuff directly it’s a lot more economic,” Fiona Hamersley Chambers, Metchosin Farm, said.
Hamersley Chambers says many people coming up to her Seedy Saturday booth was asking about food sustainability and how to start a garden.
Adding many where under the assumption you need a yard or big garden beds to start growing.
“Even if you live in an apartment and you’ve got a small patio planter, you can still grow a few things and it’s really satisfying,” she said.
Hamersley Chambers hopes the one thing people take away from the event is to not be afraid to start gardening.
“Seeds want to grow and they’ve been practicing this for millions and millions of years, so it’s not that hard,” she said.
“Soil, a bit of moisturizer, a bit of nutrients in the soil and appropriate light. Just do it.”
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