When you think gardening, think local seeds and supplies

Did you know you can buy seeds perfectly suited to our climate from two local sources—both packaged right next door in Sturgeon County? Plus, don’t forget to check out Morinville Community Library’s Seed Library!

Morinville Centennial Community Gardens in February, still blanketed in snow

It might be hard to believe, looking out your window in mid-February, that it’s time to think about gardening. But winter is indeed waning and on sunny days you can feel that heat coming through your west-facing windows even when the temperatures outside are waaaay below 0.

Those windows are a perfect spot to start your own seedlings and there’s actually no time to waste if you want to give that a try. You need to order seeds online now from local seed suppliers if they are to arrive in time, because tomatoes, peppers, celery, eggplant, and leeks should be started in the first weeks of March.

So let’s ignore all that snow and start thinking about your veggie garden journey in 2025!

First things first: you need seeds!

Life has been expensive lately, so let’s start with free seeds.

Morinville Community Library’s Seed Library – Borrow a packet of seeds for free from the library, grow your plants, and return harvested seeds in the fall to keep the cycle going. If you’re not an experienced seed collector (and how many of us are?), the library has information on seed starting and saving, including:

• Seed Sowing and Saving (Grower's Blend and The Northern Seed Library)

• Seed Saving and Gardening Terms (Seed Savers Exchange)

• Seed Saving Resources (Community Seed Network)

(Note: there is no requirement to return seeds in the fall, it just helps the library keep its seed library robust for all users).

Deb’s Greenhouse – Local favourite for flowers, Deb’s Greenhouse also sells their own brand of flower and vegetable seeds branded ‘Secret Garden Seeds.’ The varieties sold are those Deb and her family have been growing for generations, well-adapted to our local climate.

Moonglow Gardens – Based in Sturgeon County, Moonglow Gardens (website) is a “small artisanal seed-production farm growing heirloom & open-pollinated seed.” They have a large selection of high-quality, (non-certiifed) organic seeds for flower, herb and vegetable varieties selected to thrive in our local growing conditions.

Seed swap or seed exchange event

At the time of writing, there is no local seed exchange event listed in town BUT I’m keeping an eye out and will add anything I find to the Upcoming Events page (make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to be notified).

Next, something to start your seeds in!

Once your seed order is in, you’ll need to start thinking of where to plant them. Again, let’s start with the free options (mostly - unless you already have potting soil, you’ll need to buy some).

Two super easy and cheap ideas are cardboard egg cartons (poke holes in the bottom) and toilet paper rolls. There are tons of videos on Youtube to show you how. These are great options because you can just transplant your little seedlings, container and all, outside when you are ready.

Some people use plastic salad containers (they already have those handy holes in the bottom), milk or cream cartons, coffee containers, drink bottles - pretty much anything that will hold soil and provide drainage. Large clear or translucent plastic drink bottles (pop, water, orange juice, milk) can be cut to provide greenhouse-ish properties (again, Youtube will help you: try searching ‘milk jug greenhouse).

Seed-starting soil

Our local Home Hardware carries a good variety of seed-starting potting soils, compost, etc.

Professional seed trays and supplies

And if you don’t mind spending to have a tidier, more professional seed-starting window, Home Hardware also carries proper seed starting trays (empty or with pellets) and even heated seedling mats to give your growing efforts an extra boost. Heated mats really are helpful to start heat-lovers like tomatoes and peppers, especially if your window area gets pretty cool at night still, but they’re not a must-have.

Dollar Tree and No Frills also carry some seasonal gardening supplies, including seeds and seed trays.

And finally, your outdoor garden space

Prepping an outdoor space is for a later post, it’s still too early for that with all the snow (and -20 temps) we have at time of writing.

BUT it’s not too early to consider whether you really love the peaceful solitude of gardening alone at home alone, or whether you might like to turn your gardening efforts into more of a social activity that also supports the community.

Morinville Centennial Community Gardens

Don’t have space for a garden at home or just don’t have the confidence you’ll maintain one all on your own? Think about renting a plot at Morinville Centennial Community Gardens. There, you’re not just renting a bit of dirt, you’re joining a community of gardeners of all levels of knowledge and experience. Morinville Centennial Community Gardens offers private plots at the Morinville United Church and at Champlain Park, and also maintains a public garden at Champlain Park that anyone from the community can harvest from.

The Sharing Pantry at Morinville Community Gardens will soon invite community members to give and take as needed.

Every member of Morinville Centennial Community Gardens commits to doing some volunteer work throughout the gardening season as well, giving you more opportunities to meet, work with, and learn from your fellow gardeners.

The Champlain Park gardens are a beautiful spot for the whole family to hang out in the summer, with lots of room for little ones to run through grass, smell flowers and taste fresh-picked veggies. There’s also a little basketball court at the Champlain Park location.

Get started!

Growing your own food is a satisfying feeling and being outside with the sun on your skin and soil on your hands has proven physical and mental health benefits. Even if you’ve never done it before, why not try growing a couple of tomato plants from seed? It might be fun, and you can donate the seeds you don't use to the library.

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With all these fabulous local resources, Morinville is a great place to start or expand your gardening journey. Watch for more local gardening posts as the warm weather nears and local greenhouses, outdoor landscaping supply spots and tree farms open for the season.

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