Local growers swap seeds at MERA

Feb 23, 2012

Photo: Seed swappers at MERA Sulyn Cedar, Lori Beckstead and Karen Rodgers

A steady stream of local gardeners and growers, their green thumbs twitching with the approaching spring, shared some of their wealth and know-how at the MERA schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners.

This, the first ever free Seed Swap event at the school house was the brainchild of two growers, both regular vendors at the seasonal McDonalds Corners Farmers Market, Kristine Swaren of Blue Chicory Gardens and Karen Rodgers of Windblest Farm in Ferguson. The two collect their own seeds and have been swapping seeds between friends. They decided to hold the free swap to give other local gardeners and growers an opportunity to do the same.

“Sharing Shelves” were designated for growers to offer up their various herb, vegetable and flower seeds and visitors were supplied with small paper bags to collect the seeds of their choice. Kristine was pleased with the turn out and the opportunity for other local growers to share their wealth of seeds and know-how. “Gardeners are always really enthusiastic about trying anything new. That and the fact that most of us here are becoming quite political about seeds in that we are interested in preserving and growing the older open pollinated varieties. Most of us here harvest our own seeds to allow that to happen and it’s nice to be able to share them with others”, Kristine said.

Karen Rodgers brought veggie and herb seeds to swap as well as those of wild medicinal plants like burdock, stinging nettle, and St. John's Wort. She was thrilled to pick up some madder plant seeds, a perennial plant whose roots are used to make a natural red dye. “ I live on a sheep farm and my mother harvests and dyes her own wool so it will be interesting to see how this madder seed works for her, ” Karen said. While seeds were furiously changing hands there was also much animated discussion on various topics like plant sex which Karen said is an endlessly fascinating topic. “When harvesting your own seeds, it's amazing how much you come to understand about all of the different plants and varieties. There are so many different ways that different plants save their seeds so you learn a lot about the individual plants and it is not really until you have grown the plants from their own seed that you understand their whole entire reproductive cycle.” She added, “It's pretty gratifying when people are going through your own seed collection and you can see them getting as excited about it as you are.”

The organizers are thinking this will become a regular annual event at MERA. An added bonus for swappers was the opening of the Cafe MERA where visitors could also purchase organic coffee, wholesome baked breads and desserts, sandwiches and wild goose soup. The café, located in the school house, is now open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-2pm. For more information about regular and special events happening at MERA or to become a member visit www.meraschoolhouse.org. Seed swappers might also be interested to know about “Seedy Sunday”, an event for seed enthusiasts that will take place at the Perth Legion on March 4 with special guests Robert and Carol Mouk of the Heritage Seed Sanctuary in Kingston.