Seedy Sunday Edmonton is TOMORROW

ALERT: Edmonton Gardeners and Local Food Folks


Here are the deets for the official Edmonton Seedy Sunday being held tomorrow afternoon in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood. Hope to see you there!


Seedy Sunday
March 20, 2011
11:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m.
Alberta Avenue Community Hall
9210 118 Ave NW, Edmonton

seed exchange * seed vendors * books * gardening displays * kid's table
* gardening book * magazine exchange * concessions 


Speakers Include:

Growing From the Ground Up: Beginning Gardening 101
Anita Gregoire www.toobusyhands.com
Urban Permaculture
Dustin  Bajer www.permaculture.jasperplace.ca
Gardening for Pollinators 
Patty Milligan www.lolacanola.com
Growing Fruit Panel
Thean Phen Amanda Chedzoy
free admission/donations accepted

When you're done…..check this event out across the street:

Explore the many ways to get your food - beyond the supermarket!

Community Supported Agriculture programs, food boxes and delivery,
co-ops, community gardens, clubs…. meet the people behind them, find out what will work for you, and sign up!    

Where: Nina Haggarty Arts Centre (Opposite Alberta Avenue Community
League), 9225 - 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B1
When: March 20th, 2-5pm
Entry by donation to Slow Food Edmonton

Great Resources for your inner Foodie and Urban Farmer

While your best resources for urban farming are local farmers--- who, if you live in Edmonton, can be found tonight at the Alberta Avenue Farmer's Market--- one of the best print resources is Mother Earth News magazine. It's cheap to order (here), and comes compliments of Canada Post directly to your mailbox.

If you're interested in books on Urban Farming, check out Mother Earth News' book store for some great titles. Also exceptional is most of the materials put out by Storey Publishing. Go through their book lists here for great ideas and inspiration.

Also, for all the foodies out there, check out Spezzatino Magazine for some delectable food information and pictures. All subscription proceeds go to supporting the Healthy Food Bank (check out my blog post on squash here).

If you have more suggestions of resources, share them in the comments section below.

Some Websites that are Worth a Look

There is an incredible amount of community action related to enhancing food security in Edmonton, as well as support for reconnecting to the earth and our neighbours. Check out some of the fun and creative ways Edmontonians are realigning their values and lifestyles to more sustainable models:

Traditional Skills Edmonton
Green Edmonton Blog
Operation Fruit Rescue
Just Food Edmonton Blog
City Farm

Helpful books for the winter blues

Starting in January, when I’ve tired of winter and begun to dream about sun lotion, bugs and weeds, I start trolling the web for new garden planning books. Here are some great reads that I’ve found indispensable for garden planning, seed starting, and mental health this 2010 season:

• Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces by Patricia Lanza- Great ideas for creative, affordable and simple garden planning and planting in containers and small spaces.
• Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte- Companion planting can reduce your pesticide use and increase your vegetable yield; this book tells you how to do it with an easy to read index of dozens of edible plants.
• Seed Sowing and Saving by Carole B. Turner- step by step techniques for collection and growing more than 100 vegetables, flowers and herbs
• The Plant Propagator’s Bible by Miranda Smith- A step-by-step guide to propagating every plant in your garden

All are available from the Edmonton Public Library.