Thanks to the efforts of Kathy Provost and her team of “Rebel Gardeners,” all elementary school children from Lac la Hache to 100 Mile House and from Canim Lake to Bridge Lake, including those who are home-schooled, will be given packets of vegetable seeds to plant this spring.
The seed exchange program is sponsored by a group called “The Rebel Garden Zone Campaign,” which is hosted by the South Cariboo Sustainability Society.
One of the goals of the The Rebel Garden Zone Campaign is to encourage the people of 100 Mile House to grow gardens and to grow food – for themselves and others. To this end, the group plans to challenge all residents of the 100 Mile area to “try to collectively grow 100 different varieties of vegetables, fruits, nuts and berries over the summer,” says Provost.
“Let's see what we can actually grow in our community. We are challenging the people of 100 Mile House to show us how many varieties of fruits and vegetables can be grown in our area which is Zone 2 to Zone 4, depending on where you live.
“We are being rebels because the growing season here can be challenging. Let's see if we can grow 100 varieties here.”
More seeds for the school children are needed, and there will be more information about The Rebel Garden Zone Campaign Challenge at the seed exchange on Seedy Saturday at the Creekside Seniors Activity Centre, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seedy Saturday is sponsored by the Horse Lake Community Farm Co-operative and the South Cariboo Agri-Culture Enterprise Centre.
The Rebel Garden Zone Campaign will have a table at the Seedy Saturday event and will be accepting donated seeds then. The group can be contacted through the Sustainability website at southcariboosustainability.com/.
The Seed Exchange is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthCaribooSeedExchange. Provost can be reached at 250-945-9515.
For Seedy Saturday information, call Karen at 250-395-3580.