Seeds of an idea
Collective holds annual event in downtown New Glasgow
“For a lot of people, it’s a passion,“says Corey Ceccolini of the Pictou County Seed Collective.
Ceccolini, who runs Hilltop Homestead in Lansdowne, along with her husband Justin Smith, is a member of the small group that believes in saving seeds, hopefully improving the types that can thrive in the type of climate this region experiences.
But there’s a lot more to this whole seeding business, says Ceccoloni. It’s about enjoying the feelings of independence, self-sustainability and even saving a few dollars on seeds every year.
“Just being more in touch with the whole process of growing the food that we eat is an important part of all of it. To start with that seed, that’s where it all begins,” Ceccolini says, who adds fledgling growers would be wise to start with peas, beans and tomatoes, all of them relatively easy crops to get started with.
The group held its annual Seedy Saturday over the weekend where like-minded individuals gathered to exchange not just ideas, but actual seeds. It took place in the newly opened Perfect Diversity Clay Art Studio downtown, after several years of being out in the country.
“This is the first time we brought it to town,” says Greenhill farmer Cathy Munro.
About a dozen showed up for Seedy Saturday and heard presentations from Greg Hayward of the New Glasgow library and Marja Jorgensen of Summer Street Industries, both of whom discussed the development of the community gardens at the library and SSI.
Munro got involved with the community garden at SSI, where the use of micro-greens to raise peas and sunflowers speeds up the growing process at a lightning pace.
“Ten days, from seed to harvest,” Munro said.