With still 20 inches of snow on the ground, 150 local gardeners in the Robson Valley showed up for the Seedy Saturday event in Dunster. As in previous years they sat through presentations and a panel discussion of best practices for growing garden plants, pollinators, and other related topics. The gathering is always interesting, and I always learn lot, as well of seeing friends and acquaintances that I haven’t seen for maybe a year.
Two presentations were the most memorable for me. One dealt with pollinators and the growing threat to their existence, due to the increasing use of Neonicotinoid pesticides that are wiping out bee populations, as well as other pollinating insects. Bedding plants found at big box stores are often grown using seeds coated with that nerve agent. The growing plant absorbs the deadly chemical and spreads it into the flowers. The bees pick it up in the pollen and carry it back to their hives. It is deadly, and has a half-life of 1,000 days, so if the plant is a perennial, it can kill not for just one summer, but half of the poison is still killing in the next couple of years.
The other interesting presentation was about your gut bacteria, something that scientists are discovering has many important effects on your health. We were given advice on what foods and herbs do positive things to your gut bacteria, and thus improve various problems in your body.
Again this year, Seedy Saturday was very helpful and informative gathering.
See my paintings at: davidmarchant2.ca
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