Cranbrook’s First Annual Seedy Saturday Draws 150 Community Members

On February 14th, Cranbrook hosted its first annual Seedy Saturday at the Cranbrook Public Library — and what a lovely start to the local growing season it was!

Approximately 150 people came through the doors over the course of the day, eager to connect with fellow local gardeners, share knowledge, and pick up seeds for the growing season ahead — a fitting way to spend part of Valentine’s Day celebrating a shared love of gardening and community.

This event was made possible through the collaborative leadership of the Cranbrook Public Produce Garden and the Cranbrook Public Library (with special thanks to library staff member Shellie Brun), along with the encouragement and expertise of Mary Cosman. Mary, formerly of Fernie Seed Garden, played a key role in helping bring the event together — and local gardeners are fortunate to now have her years of seed-saving and gardening knowledge right here in Cranbrook.

The day was a true community collaboration. Displays, education, and gardening expertise were shared by Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook, the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council, Cranbrook Garden Club, Seeds of Diversity Canada, and the Good Food programs from Community Connections Society of SE BC.

Wildrose Heritage Seed Company of Lethbridge also joined the event as the sole commercial seed vendor, making the trip to Cranbrook to provide locally appropriate heirloom seeds for gardeners in the region.

Support from the Kimberley Cranbrook Food Network — made possible through funding from United Way BC — helps make seed distribution events like this possible in both Cranbrook and Kimberley, with another Seedy Saturday event taking place in Kimberley on March 7th, and additional seed-starting workshops at both the Kimberley and Cranbrook libraries to be officially announced soon.

Together, these efforts help encourage more people to grow and share food locally, strengthening both food security and community connections across the region.

Seeds Shared Across the Community

Thousands of seeds have been made available to the community this growing season thanks to the generosity of several partners.

Fernie Seed Garden shared a wide variety of locally grown seeds at Seedy Saturday, with popular varieties like cherry tomatoes, root vegetables, green zucchini, sugar peas, poppies, marigolds, and nasturtiums quickly finding their way into the hands of local gardeners. Several additional seed packets were also donated or swapped during the event — something organizers hope will continue to grow in future years.

Home Hardware Cranbrook also supported the initiative by donating a large collection of commercial seed packets to the Cranbrook Public Produce Garden for community distribution. Many of these seeds were shared directly at Seedy Saturday, while others continue to be distributed through local channels, including schools and community gardening programs. The Cranbrook Public Produce Garden also passed along a significant number of these donated seeds to be made available through the Kimberley Seed Library, helping expand seed access across the region.

The opening of the Cranbrook Seed Library also coincided with this Valentine’s Day Seedy Saturday, with the first seed packets being checked out for the 2026 growing season. The Cranbrook Seed Library operates on a simple “borrow, grow, and share” model: community members can take a small number of seed packets, grow them in their gardens, and — if possible — return saved seeds at the end of the season to help keep the library stocked for others.

The Cranbrook Seed Library will continue to make seeds available to the public throughout the growing season and you can learn more about the Cranbrook and Kimberley Seed Libraries over here.

Together, these efforts are helping place freely distributed seed packets into the hands of gardeners across the Kimberley and Cranbrook region — supporting more people in growing and sharing more food locally… because every little bit adds up.

Volunteers & Community Support

Events like Seedy Saturday only happen thanks to the many people who step up to help make them possible. Seventeen volunteers with connections to the Cranbrook Public Produce Garden, Cranbrook Garden Club, and Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook helped throughout the day, assisting with everything from welcoming visitors to sharing gardening knowledge and helping distribute seeds.

An exit survey showed that attendees came for a mix of local seeds, gardening information, and social connection — a reminder that events like this are about more than just swapping seeds. They’re about learning from one another, building relationships, and strengthening the local growing community through both individual and collective action.

With strong turnout, enthusiastic feedback, and seeds now finding their way into gardens across the region, Cranbrook’s first Seedy Saturday planted more than just vegetables — it planted momentum for another positive year of 'Plant A Row, Share A Row', #kimcrangrowtogether, and local growers sharing in the community-building experience of growing food and sharing it with others.

Here’s to watching what's been planted continue to grow!