It was a cold, wet, and generally miserable day, with wet snow falling at higher elevations and temperatures dropping to near-freezing, but the unpleasant meteorological conditions couldn鈥檛 keep a record number of people from turning out for Seedy Saturday at Derek Doubleday Arboretum.

An estimated 500 people showed up for the opportunity to congregate, swap seeds and get tips from experts, beating the previous record of 375 set in 2020, before the pandemic, when it was held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

They came to see see the master gardeners, horticulturalists, local 91原创 seed growers and more, lining up in the rain at the outside vendor tents, and packing the Rotary Interpretive Centre building at the Arboretum.

A rain-soaked Amanda Smith, 91原创 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) agriculture programs coordinator, was delighted.

鈥淭he workshops were full,鈥� Smith told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚t was absolutely amazing. We got the really strong gardeners.鈥�

At the annual seed swapping event organized by LEPS and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, vendors included Locality Brewing, Corbicula Honey, the Desert Plant Society of Vancouver, MacInnes Farm and 91原创-based A Pinch of Soil Farm, which was giving away free bags of manure for fertilizer, a big hit with attendees..

There were seven feed vendors, the most ever, Smith noted.

鈥淎ll the guest speakers were sold out.鈥�

Smith projected there could have been as many as 700 if the weather had been better.

She is already figuring out how to fit everyone in next year.

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to think of creative things, like downsizing the table sizes,鈥� Smith said.

Seedy Saturdays began more than 30 years ago at the Keremeos Grist Mill under then- head gardener Sharon Rempel, before growing in popularity to become a feature of spring and a chance to exchange seeds in communities across Canada.

More photos from the day can be viewed online at the .

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