The other day, as the temperatures started to plummet and the snow started falling in earnest, we got our first seed catalogue: hurray! It's an event! Mom and I always used to make a pot of tea, get a plate of her delicious baking, sit down in her cozy kitchen, and thumb through the catalogue, thinking ahead to "next year" in the garden. We'd pick our favorites and say "Let's try that!" I know Mom was with me in spirit as I did the same this year.
If you get the T & T catalogue, be sure to check out the picture of the "Taiwan Winner" cabbages on page 7: these cabbages were grown by "Glen from Yorkton". This is actually our own Glen Tymiak, who with his sweet wife Lena, are members of the Horticultural Society and are amazing and enthusiastic gardeners! Congratulations on having your cabbage pictured in T & T, that is very exciting! We're all proud of you!
The T & T Seeds catalogue is a great catalogue, brimming full of colored photos of all the many things you and I can grow next year. (But we'd have to get tips from Glen for the cabbage!) I started making our order, and I think each row will have to be only about a foot long so that we can fit in everything I'd like to try! We might have to edit down our order a bit! Some observations: if you get the T & T catalogue, you will notice a block in the lower right corner of the cover that says "NO GMOs: We do not carry any GMO products". What is a GMO? That stands for "genetically modified organism", which means that genetic engineering has changed the DNA of the seeds. This brings new traits to the plant; some might be good, some not. From a gardener's point of view, most gardeners are gardeners because they want to form a wholesome connection with nature; many grow their own food because they know exactly what it is and what has or has not been applied to it. Using modified seed might not fit into this scenario.
On a more global scale, feeding the world's population becomes more difficult if big companies own the rights to seeds. Will the poor little farmer in Africa or South America have access or be able to afford seeds to grow food to feed his family? It's a very complex issue.
This awareness is part of the mandate of wonderful groups like the Assiniboine Food Security Alliance. Their lovely website (www.afsamatters.ca) says, in part, that food security is "Supporting local, regional, family-scale, and sustainable food production; Building and revitalizing local communities and economies; Bringing people closer in touch with the source of their food; Ensuring that individuals have access to a Heritage Seed Bank."
And guess what? That is another thing that T & T Seeds offers: a selection of Heritage seeds. I know many of you save your own seeds for next year's garden, but if you are trying to find a variety that you have not seen around for a while, they might have it!
Congratulations to Barb Greenstein who became an honorary lifetime member of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society at our AGM recently. Barb was our treasurer for many years, as well as being an avid gardener and supporter of Society activities. Her support over the years has been invaluable and we are honored to have her as a member!
A big "Thank You" to Liz Jones, our Horticultural Society president, for organizing our annual AGM/holiday supper. Thank you to everyone who brought items for the auction, everyone who bought these items, and everyone who attended! Thank you also to the wonderful people at Melrose Place who made us such a delicious meal! It was a lovely evening!
Have a great week!
