Seedy Saturday
Seedy Saturday - March 2, 2024
Our next Seedy Saturday is set for March 2nd at our Downtown location!
Come out for a fun-filled day and connect with amazing garden, nature and community groups located right here in Simcoe County.
What is Seedy Saturday?
What is Seedy Saturday (and Sundays)?
"Seedy Saturdays are a remarkable phenomenon. They are not one event, but a series of separate events, which have sprung up across the country, each individually and uniquely organized under the same general themes of encouraging the use of open-pollinated and heritage seeds, enabling a local seed exchange, and educating the public about seed saving and environmentally responsible gardening practices. They usually occur on a Saturday, hence the name, but also occur on Sundays and other days." Source: Seeds of Diversity Canada .
Learn more about Seedy Saturdays on the Seeds of Diversity webpage 'Everything you wanted to know about Seedy Saturdays'.
- Seeds of Diversity Canada is a group of seed savers from coast to coast who protect Canada's seed biodiversity by growing it themselves and sharing it with others. Find out how you can support seed saving and local distribution. On their website you will find seed saving resources and a list of Canadian Seedy Saturday events. Using their website, find ways to source local and Canadian seeds from area greenhouses or local vendors or use their online reference guide, the Canadian Seed Catalogue Index or find the best locally adapted seeds in your region with The Ecological Seed Finder.
Resources
Gardening
- Search our Community Information Directory to find services available in Barrie and surrounding area. Find information about local gardening groups and horticultural societies, community gardening, environmental beautification and food boxes.
- Community Garden Program - There are currently six community gardens in the City of Barrie and they are supported by our community partners Urban Pantry and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The Community Garden Program is governed by the Community Garden Policy. The City administers the registration of the garden plots and any alterations to the garden plan. Residents can rent a plot or participate in a sponsored communal plot. More details can be found on the City website.
- BPL's Gale Power Search. Use the Gale OneFile Gardening and Horticulture database to search for topics on gardening and horticulture or gardening and landscaping. Discover a collection of authoritative periodicals, scholarly journals, newspapers and reference content. Use the Topic Finder to explore new topics or keywords related to your search. Searches across multiple databases including Academic OneFile, Popular Magazines and Gale Virtual Reference Library. *Library card needed to access.
- BPL's Gardening Buzz programs. These programs are offered year-round during gardening and harvesting seasons outside of Seedy Saturday in March. Learn about upcoming programs in our Events Calendar.
Seeds
- "Borrow" seeds and get your garden growing with the BPL Seed Library located at all library locations in early spring through early fall annually. Also find tips about beginner seeding and reference our seed specific planting guide.
Pollinators
- BPL's Gardening Buzz programs. These programs are offered year-round during gardening and harvesting seasons outside of Seedy Saturday in March. Learn about upcoming programs in our Events Calendar.
Explore Nature
- Borrow items from our 'Library of Things' to help you discover and get out in nature - snowshoe kits; TackleShare fishing rods; and Ontario Parks Vehicle Permit
- BPL's Universal Class. Take online courses in outdoor activities such as Canoeing 101; Freshwater Fishing 101; Digital Photography 101; Introduction to Gardening; and Landscaping 101. *Library card needed to access.
- Search our Community Information Directory to find services available in Barrie and surrounding area about local Environmental Protection and Improvement organizations or programs you can join or participate in.
Bee City
The City of Barrie is proud to be a member of Bee City!
A bee city is a designation that connects people, places and pollinators.
Barrie has been working with residents and community partners to enhance naturalization and pollinator opportunities for the past two decades. Implementation of the Pesticide Reduction Policy in 2003 and the Council adoption of a Naturalization Policy for all city lands in 2007 were our first steps towards a pollinator healthy community.
To learn more about pollinator initiatives and how to make your yard more friendly for bees and other pollinators, visit the City of Barrie website.
Seed Library
Our Seed Library will open again in June 2024. It's a great way to "borrow" seeds and get your garden growing. Our BPL Seed Library will be available all our library locations.