Looks like spring is already here and everyone is busy. I heard someone say that she had seen honey bees in her garden so I had to find out for myself and sure enough, there they were on my crocuses. The winter was so mild that some of my perennial poppies kept some green leaves.
I had the chance to attend the recent presentation by Dr. Vandana Shiva at the Schubert Centre. It was excellent.
The following description was taken from her introduction to the crowd. Dr. Shiva has made visible the social, economic and ecological costs of corporate-led globalization. She has campaigned internationally on issues surrounding biotechnology and genetic engineering. Dr. Shiva is on the national board of Organic Standards of India. She advises governments worldwide and is currently working with the government of Bhutan (a remote and impoverished Himalayan kingdom which fiercely guards its traditions) to make Bhutan 100 per cent organic by 2020. Anyone attending the Shuswap Seed Swap March 5 had a chance to see the same presentation which was on video.
Appreciation is given to the Splatsin Community Center for providing such an incredible venue and to their youth group for their assistance. This building is just amazing. It is visible from the highway driving by, but until you go inside, you just cannot imagine the grandeur of it. It is very impressive and everyone was pleased and I thought it was the perfect place for the event. This year the event was the biggest to date, with attendance in excess of 2,000 people. With all the chemicals in our food supply, no wonder more and more people are growing their own food and trying as much as possible to eat organically.
If you missed last Saturday in Enderby, you have the chance of attending Vernon’s second Seedy Saturday this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.., at Trinity United Church, 3300 Alexis Park Dr. This is organized by the Sustainable Environment Network Society (SENS) and Vernon in Transition. There will be lots of vendors and community groups again this year as well as the library and also children’s activities.
Garden speakers will include:
10:15 a.m. — Judy Baumbrough of Dusty Shovel Gardens on attracting pollinators to the garden
11 a.m. — Gord Hiebert of Element Eco-Design on water conservation in the garden
12:15 p.m. — Sarah Lecouffe Axtell of Sarah’s Herbs and Mushrooms on local foraging of wild mushrooms
1 p.m. — Jana Macnab of Element Eco-Design talking about starting seeds
2 p.m. — Javan K. Bernakavitch of All Points Design.
Hope to see you there.
From the old farmer’s almanac: Onions are a cold-season crop. Onion sets can be planted without worry of frost damage and have a higher success rate than direct seed or transplants. Onions grow well on raised beds or raised rows. Think of onions as a leaf crop, not a root crop. When planting onion sets, don’t bury them too deep. If more than the bottom third of the bulb is underground, bulb growth can be restricted.
For more information: 250-558-4556 plantlady1@shaw.ca
Jocelyne Sewell is an organic gardening enthusiast in the North Okanagan and member of Okanagan Gardens & Roses Club. Her column appears every other Wednesday.