urban seeds

Urban Seeds Program

Since 2000, EYA has been working with volunteers and interns to plant heirloom vegetables, flowers and herbs and save their seeds for re-distribution in the community. With growing insecurities in our global food system, the continual amalgamation of seed companies, and the relentless encroachment of genetic modification into commercial seeds, the importance of preserving locally adapted heirloom seeds is at an all-time high.

Heirloom seeds are seeds harvested from plant varieties that have been nurtured, selected and handed down though many generations, and many are well suited to the intensive small-scale home gardener. The Urban Seeds program aims to preserve these heirloom seed varieties and make them available to the local community, ultimately reducing our reliance on outside seed sources whilst improving and adapting plant varieties to urban conditions in the City of Vancouver.

As part of the larger Urban Seeds program, EYA also recruits a team of “Urban Seedkeepers” each year. Urban Seedkeepers are either individuals or families with growing space, who plant, grow and save a couple varieties of heritage, organic seeds. EYA provides training and support for our Urban Seedkeepers so they may learn how to grow crops for seed, and properly collect and store these seeds. The Seedkeepers then donate a portion of their saved seed back to EYA so that they may be used in our urban greening projects and free education programs around the city. In exchange the Seedkeepers get to harvest half the bounty for their eating pleasure.

Goals: 

• To provide hands on seed saving experience for youth
• To improve and adapt plant varieties to urban conditions in the City of Vancouver
• To support grassroots gardening projects with free or low cost seeds.
• To reach out to the local community by providing education and volunteer opportunities
• To build a community seed bank to ensure access to appropriate, non GMO seed varieties for everyone who wants to grow their own!

Seedy Events

Our seed packages have been available for purchase at several “seedy Saturday” events and are currently available for purchase at several stores across Vancouver (see details below). EYA is also holding a SEED EXCHANGE on Saturday April 14, 2012 from 10 am to 1 pm in the Eco-Pavilion in Strathcona Community Garden. The emphasis is on exchange, so no money will be trading hands, only seeds. We welcome all to attend, even those who have no seeds to trade as you’ll still be able to get your hands on some free seeds!

Seed Varieties for Sale in 2012

Seeds are available for purchase at the following locations: Drive Organics, East End Food Coop, Eternal Abundance, Magnet Home Hardware, Olla Flower Shop, and VanDusen Garden Gift Shop.

You can also purchase our seeds direct via our online store.

Thank you to Premier Envelope for donating all the envelopes for our Urban Seeds program!