Lakeland Seed Swap Visits Alice Melnyk Public Library

by Jared Rajoo

It all starts with a seed.

As we approach the beginning of spring and the growing season, an enthusiastic group of volunteers from our community are getting together to help spread the word about the benefit of growing your own garden at home.

It doesn't take much space or money... but rather, a little time and effort. Over the years it has become more convenient to get our fresh produce from supermarkets and chain stores due to our increasingly busy lives.

The Lakeland Seed Swap is a passion project started by Cathrine Mackenzie, Gerald Delorme, Betty-Lou Kotze, and Morgan Gordeyko. With currently over three hundred and twenty members, this project has a group of passionate and excited members who are eager to share their combined experience and vast knowledge of gardening with the whole community, and Morgan, the administrator, who just wanted to learn how to keep her house plants alive.

"For me," Cathrine Mackenzie recalls fondly, "it started when I got my new home years ago, and all I wanted was some flowers. That ignited a passion that continues till today. Soon I started growing raspberries, then peas, and before long, my whole house was surrounded by fresh vegetables, berries, and fruit trees. When I moved to Myrnam, I continued to garden, and had the opportunity to make my new home my new gardening project."

With the goal this year of getting as many people to grow their own gardens at home, the Lakeland Seed Swap group is willing to provide anyone interested with seeds and advice, from the novice to the seasoned grower.

For all those interested in learning more about the Lakeland Seed Swap and (continued on page 3)

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