Zenon Park’s “Seedy Saturday” a prelude to spring

Everyone in Saskatchewan gets excited about the coming of spring, and the Association Fransaskoise of Zenon Park took a gamble that on March 29, even with winter still in the air, people would be keen to focus on their gardens and attend a day of workshops on that subject.

Baby goats from RobLynn Ranch near Naicam stole the show 

Presentations began at 10 a.m. with a conference on organic gardening led by Judy Ternier and Janice Sandford Beck. The two women have both been cultivating vegetable gardens – Ternier on a farm near North Battleford and Sandford Beck in city environments until lately – long enough to have a wheelbarrow full of advice and tips for the public. Their advice ranged from what to do about chickweed and weeds in general to how to prepare the soil for winter and for spring.

Their second presentation after lunch was on saving your own seeds. Ternier is particularly knowledgeable on that subject as her brother, Jim is the owner of Prairie Garden Seeds based in Humboldt. The two women also had a table set up with a display of seeds that the company produces, and attendees could buy a select variety of organic seeds directly from them.

Alternating with the presentations by Ternier and Sandford Beck was Murray Gray, who farms at Aylsham. Gray himself is a vegetable producer, but is also the coordinator of the Saskatchewan Fruit and Vegetable “On Farm Food Safety” program run by Canada GAP (Good Agricultural Practices). A large part of his work involves inspecting farms in the province to see if they meet the On Food Farm Safety standards.

Gray had a wealth of information to share with the public on that subject, things that home gardeners might not necessarily think about but which are extremely important for commercial growers who provide Saskatchewan with locally-grown produce.

He also surprised the public with some statistics, such as the fact that Saskatchewan imports 98 per cent of its fruit and vegetables.

Besides the guest speakers, several local businesses had set up stands. Creekside Orchards in Melfort were selling conserves and honey, artisan woodcarver Paul Emile L’Heureux had a table with the objects he makes on display, and Naicam goat breeder Lynn Colyn and her son Alex had brought in two beautiful one-week-old kids that were the centre of photographers’ attentions!