Don't suppress that primal urge to hunt and gather. Give in to your base need to be a hunter and gatherer and attend the SEED COLLECTION WORKSHOP this Saturday in the lovely Rouge Valley, amid the splendour of fall colours.

No more wandering about in the wilderness, aimlessly. Your walks can have purpose. This is your chance to learn the secrets of sustainable seed collecting from the experts. The NANPS Annual Plant Sale cannot possibly offer every native species that you desire for your garden. By learning the proper techniques, with confidence, you will be able to propagate plants from seed found in your journeys or traded through the NANPS SEED EXchange.

Resist the temptation to hoard by donating some of your catch to the SEED EXchange. Stocks are at an all-time low. Sound familiar? Contact: seeds@nanps.org

We realize it's close to Hallowe'ed…but don't let the workshop or the thought of a test scare you. We hope that you will be compelled to take the course. However, you will not be forced to write the test. Take it if you want the certification …and come on…it's a take home test. How hard can that be?

Here's a little primer to get you started. Consider it a Primal Scream Workshop…without the scream (well, unless you get the answers wrong when you thought you were absolutely, positively right).

OCTOBER EVENTS, COURSES, WORKSHOPS

Discover the important ecological roles plants play in our landscapes.
Lecture presented in partnership with the North American Native Plant Society. NANPS members only $10!!!
Non-NANPS Public $20, students (with valid ID) $15, TBG members free.
Door sales only, limited seating. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Details

Opening Reception: Wednesday, October 27, 7 - 9 p.m. Following the presentation of awards, the exhibition jurors will do a walk-through offering an opportunity to understand the jurying process and gain insight into some of the art exhibited.
Papermill Gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday, 12 -4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 4 p.m.

How else can we explain the plummeting donations to the SEED EXchange? It was a near perfect summer for growing with sufficient rain, warm temperatures and lots of sunlight. There should be tons of seed produced and available for collecting. The cut backs everyone is talking about lately are fiscal in nature, not nature being frugal. Is there an inverse corollary?

Perhaps you've grown quite attached to the offspring of your little darlin's. Time to let go…do not worry - they will go to good homes. Fellow SEED EXchangers appreciate the efforts of your labour…almost as much as if they produced the progeny themselves. We don't want to make light of this, but we're not asking you to give up a kidney or a piece of your liver...though we would consider a stem cell donation.

The 10 percent rule of seed procurement does not apply to your property, unless you haven't given yourself permission. Be assured – no matter how wild you or others think your garden is, it's not really “the wild”. So don't hold back, collect as much as you can, but leave some for the birds and other critters.

When you donate, provenance is an important detail. But you don't have to go so far as to give GPS bearings; even if you have aquatic species to donate (you've all heard of incidences of wayward vehicles ending up in the drink).

Please make your donations to the SEED EXchange.
Guidelines for collecting.
Contact: seeds@nanps.org

Scoop definition
Power plant: the inexplicable hold that a native plant has on you after you've first locked eyes; a native plant species that has a certain allure for you; a plant that totally takes over your mind, body and soul; a plant that empowers you.

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