Seed sharing, seed saving, seed exchanging socials, and events are not reserved for large groups or “specialists” - they can be as simple as two people getting together!

Start where you are and trust if you’ve got the idea to do it, it isn’t complicated. Here’s a basic break down to start with.

Seeds want to be shared. Seeds connect people and create community. You can do this!

One of the social media posts to invite people to seed saving and sharing events.

If you’ve got an idea - follow it and watch it unfold!

Don’t wait for someone else to run one! You can do this! If you want to create an event, chat with a friend and see if they’d like to run it with you. Here are a few basic things to consider:

Location
Date (and a backup date for storm days if it is an outdoor event)
Time (having a set start and end time is key! As an introvert who still loves to gather with others, I like knowing when things are over)
Size limits based on the location of the event (how many people will the location fit?)
Seeds (it doesn’t take many and invite participants to bring their extra seeds to share and trade too!)
Will you offer envelopes, baggies, etc for people to save seeds in? I have offered extras if I have them and I also invite people to bring their own solutions.
To serve food or drink or not (I don’t to keep things simple - however, I have served hot apple cider around the fire a few times for all-outdoor events)
accessibility - will this location allow for all bodies? if not, what adaptations can be made?

You can arrange to meet at a community space, a library room, a coffee shop, a school gym, or at someone’s home or farm. We have run many events at our old home and here at Hummingbird Forest Gardens - most of them outside and a few inside in the winter. It is fun to meet outside where one can see the seeds in action or learn how to save seeds right there in the garden.

We have hosted seed saving events in our actual garden (both in the city and now here) where people can come and learn how to harvest seeds right then and there (season dependent). If not, you can walk through the garden and show people how to collect seeds in their own gardens when the season is right. Late fall is a great time to do this!

How to invite people to a seed sharing event

There are many options to inform people of your event:

word of mouth
invite your friends and family and have them invite their friends and family
Social Media Posts (use Canva to make posters, use Facebook Events on your personal, group or business pages)
Posters at local shops, grocery stores, and farms
Create a community by building a group of people who all want to run the event and each person can share with their networks
Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok LIVES will be seen by more people!
Create a local group for seed exchanges and run them every 4 months - build more community around the seed sharing events
Partner up with a local business or farm and see if they would be interested in co-hosting with you

Simple social media post created in Canva with date, time and general location. If people want to come they can contact me for the address. I put these posts on my personal Facebook account as “cover photos” so more people see them! I make sure the caption is detailed and sometimes I use hashtags so people who don’t know me can see the post too. #ottawaseedsharing #foodforest for example.

How to create community and conversation at seed sharing events

set up little sitting areas so smaller groups of people can chat
pre-organized a special presentation such as “How to use Native Plants in your Food Forest or Garden to attract Pollinators”
lay out books or magazines as conversation starters and / or for those who are quiet and prefer to sit in a corner and read for a bit
tea made from your garden can be fun if you are up for it
light a fire and provide seating around it
offer a garden or food forest tour
invite a local special guest who can share something unique or offer a mini-workshop
create an atmosphere of “we are all here with our own valuable experiences and knowledge, please share" and “ask anything, someone here probably knows an answer!”

Books and magazines create opportunities for conversation or for someone who is looking for a quiet moment to sit and read for a bit.

I hope this is helpful - one person can make a big difference, build community, and get those seeds out there so they can grow. We have the knowledge and experience in our communities to create more gardens, grow more food, and share wisdom - the seeds will do the rest!

New friendships, beautiful learning, and conversations come out of these events!

Join us at our next one or create your own! (and let me know if you are local, I’d love to join in!)

Another excellent resource is Seeds of Diversity Canada - they run many Seedy Saturday Events and more! The website is full of excellent resources about seed saving too!

Seeds of Diversity Canada