CORNWALL, Ontario – Over 2,000 people were expected at the fifth annual Seedy Saturday event, hosted by Transition Cornwall + Food Action Group and coordinated by Allspice Solutions.
Kat Rendek, Owner of Allspice Solutions and Coordinator with Transition Cornwall +, said that about 500 people arrived to the event within the first hour. Over 40 booths were set up throughout the Benson Centre, showcasing a plethora of items and initiatives from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“We have tried to catch all of our really cool, active community partners,” said Rendek about all of the booths. “We are seeing the community take to this event, love it, and it is just growing year after year.”
Rendek explained that the event hosted everything from seed vendors, vendors selling honey and garden supplies, a free seed swap table, to non-profits connected to food systems or natural ecosystems. In breakout rooms, about six workshops were offered throughout the event, spanning topics like building compost boxes and constructing edible perennial landscapes.
With a number of hands-on activities for children available, each received an activity passport which could be redeemed at the Kinsmen Children Seed Market booth.
“We want to inspire children from a young age,” said Rendek. “It’s important to connect to our food sources at all ages and all stages of life; connecting in and understanding that all of our food comes from seeds. Sometimes we get away from that (mindset)…seeds are very often forgotten. We have an insecure seed supply globally. So, we want to remind people it’s really important to value seeds, to invest more energy and time into saving seeds, and sharing and growing.”
Jordan Bouchard of Bird and Bee, an Ottawa based business which sells vegetable flower seeds, said he was impressed with the growth of the event throughout the past five years.
“It’s a really great event. We have been here each year that Cornwall has had Seedy Saturday. Every year we are so impressed…the organizers are doing a great job, and there’s so much more for families to do here than other seedy events.”
Rendek extended a thank you to all sponsors and partners of the event, especially the City of Cornwall, Kinsmen Club of Cornwall and Social Development Council.
