Green thumbs will be eagerly awaiting to get dirt in their hands and start the growing season. (Ronald Quaroni/ paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Spring Seeds

Local growers encouraged to take advantage of library seed program

Mar 22, 2019 | 12:53 PM

The 2019 gardening season is right around the corner.

A few gardeners in the area will start pre-planting seeds inside, in hopes of getting the early jump on spring.

Angie Bragg owner of Wright’s Greenhouse said pepper plants can be planted indoors right now.

“You can start some of your plants at home right now,” Bragg said. “The first part of April is a good time to start your tomatoes and some other vegetables.”

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Prince Albert and area residents hoping to get their hands on local seeds can check out the selection at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library.

The seed library is a free, volunteer-run service, offered by the Prince Albert Parkland Permaculture Guild in partnership with the library, where locally grown seeds are donated and organized in a filing cabinet at the library. Anyone interested in growing can head down to the library and sign out seeds, free of charge with no obligation to bring them back.

Farrah Fox with the guild and co-founder of the seed library, said the seed selection is quite extensive.

“Anything from vegetables seeds to flowers,” Fox explained. “There’s lots of peas and beans, tomatoes and squash. It changes every day because people can go and add their seeds to the library as well.”

Fox said the seed library not only gives a chance for new and experienced gardeners to get their hands on tried-and-true seeds, but an opportunity to continue a legacy.

“They have a story. Somebodies baba or kokum has grown these for their whole lives, then they pass them down through (the) generations,” she said.

While growers don’t have to bring back seeds, Fox hoped that successful growers would help replenish their seed library stock if they have a good crop.

Angie Bragg said although it’s very early in the season, growers may have missed their chance to plant certain flowers such as, pansies or petunias.

Bragg said people hoping to help local bee populations can grow any type of flowering plant, the more colour the better, as colour attracts bees.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni