This spring, we are excited to launch our seed bank and local seed exchange to help residents access hardy, northern-adapted varieties at no cost. These resources will make it easier for everyone in the township to start their gardens while fostering a recreational community network built on sharing local knowledge and surplus.
A Recreational Community Agriculture, Food Security and Gardening Project
In Northwestern Ontario, we know that gardening is more than just a hobby—it is a commitment to patience, resilience, and community. Whether you are tending to a plot in Dyment or a backyard garden in Borups Corners, the challenge of our unique climate brings us together.
To support our local growers and enhance food security in our township, the Melgund Recreational Community Garden Program is looking forward to the launch our Melgund Seed Bank & Exchange project.
The new seed bank and seed exchange represent the next phase of our evolving community garden initiative, serving as a core component of our recreational programming for the township. Integrating these resources into our existing framework, we are transforming gardening from a solitary task into a shared social activity that celebrates our local growing conditions. This recreational approach encourages residents to connect at the Dyment Recreation Hall, turning the practical work of food security into an engaging and accessible community experience for everyone.
Why a Seed Bank?
Seeds are the foundation of our food system. However, not all seeds are created equal. A tomato variety that thrives in Southern Ontario might struggle to ripen before our first frost.
By creating a local Seed Bank, we are prioritizing locally adapted varieties. When we save seeds from plants that have flourished in Melgund Township soil, we are preserving genetics that are tough, fast-maturing, and resilient to our specific pests and weather patterns. Over time, this creates a stronger, more reliable food source for everyone.
How the Seed Bank Works
Located at the Dyment Recreation Hall, the Seed Bank is a physical resource for all residents.
- Borrow: At the start of the season, residents can “withdraw” packets of seeds—free of charge. We focus on staples like beans, peas, hardy tomatoes, and root vegetables.
- Grow: Plant the seeds in your home garden or support a plot with our community garden. Enjoy the harvest!
- Return (Optional but Encouraged): If you are able, we encourage growers to let a few plants go to seed at the end of the season. Harvest those seeds, dry them, and return a portion to the bank to replenish the stock for next year.
The Seed Exchange: Neighbour Helping Neighbour
In addition to the physical bank, we will launch a Digital Seed Exchange Portal this spring. We know that gardening often leads to abundance. You might have bought a bulk pack of zucchini seeds and only need three, while your neighbour has an excess of carrot seeds but forgot to buy zucchini.
The Exchange allows you to:
- List Surplus: Post seeds you have available for trade or giveaway.
- Find Varieties: Browse what others in the township are growing.
- Connect: Join us for a simple swap at the Dyment Recreation Hall.
Building Food Security, One Seed at a Time
This project is about more than just vegetables; it is about independence and connection. In reducing the cost of starting a garden and making high-quality seeds accessible to everyone, we are ensuring that every family in Melgund has the opportunity to grow their own fresh, healthy food.
Whether you are a master gardener or a first-time grower looking to plant a single pot of basil, the Seed Bank is here for you. We currently have cantaloupe, apple and cherry seeds, dill, peppers, chives, pumpkin and gathering more each week in advance of our spring program launch.
Related Components
Building on this foundation, this year’s program will include recreational community gardening activities and social events designed for engaging, hands-on experiences. These components combine outdoor leisure with practical skills development to strengthen local food security and social connectedness through active participation.
Related Programs and Research
This program builds on established research highlighting how recreational and community-based agricultural initiatives serve as effective vehicles for fostering both social cohesion and long-term food sovereignty. Expanding upon proven participatory food security research and pedagogical frameworks, the initiative elevates traditional skills development into a scalable model that reinforces the vital link between community engagement and sustainable food systems.
- Towards a Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation
- Relationship Development and Engagement with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and University of Minnesota Duluth
- Relationship Development and Engagement Activities with the University of the Arctic
- Food Preservation Training and Curriculum Development
- Melgund: Come Eat With Us Cookbook
- The Art of Canning and Creative Entrepreneurship
Support our Recreational Community Garden Program
Would you like to support this program? Contact the Local Services Board of Melgund at melgundlsb@gmail.com for more information!
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