By Tyler Marr

Planting a seed of environmental protection

Apr 22, 2017 | 4:34 PM

We need to enhance environmental sustainability and protect seed species was centre stage Saturday in Prince Albert.

Seedy Saturday was celebrated at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, which is a time to encourage people to preserve, plant, protect and use homegrown seeds from the area over those from seed manufacturers.

“That is critical because we want to be able to keep things diverse, and we want to be able to adopt things and grow things in our own local communities that are best for us,” Nancy Carswell with the Council for Canadians said.

Early in March, the library launched its Seed Library, which lend seeds over books to interested growers and works to increase plant variety and genetic diversity to aid in fighting off disease and extinction.

Running in tandem with this were Earth Day 2017 celebrations, with the highlighted theme being play. Carswell explained this was derived from studies that show young children who play outdoors are more likely to become nature protectors when they are older.

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Working to educate people and learn about the residual effects small, smart choices made every day can have on the planet was also a central message.

Carswell said though an international will to move and address climate change is needed, those at the bottom can still have a profound impact.

“Ultimately, we are all part of a bee hive and although we think we don’t have control of the whole hive, we have control of our own decisions,” she said. 

Simple acts such as walking or being aware of cleaner driver habits were small things Carswell said people can do to help made a big difference.

Carswell was joined by dozens of other residents and community figureheads and said it was important to provide an outlet to those who support the cause to connect and meet like-minded people.

“We are getting closer and closer to a tipping point and I would like to encourage us to rush it along,” she said.

Coun. Don Cody was in attendance on behalf of the city, and though thinking it was fantastic to have Earth Day celebrated, wished people would take up the cause every day of the year.

Welcoming the innovative work many groups do in the community, he spoke to some green initiatives the city is expected to embark on, such as planting trees that bear fruit on boulevards.

“Fruit trees are beautiful and what is better than having a beautiful boulevard with something that is edible,” Cody said, noting a desire to pursue further innovations within the city.

“We don’t want to be part of the problem, we want to be part of the solution.”

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr