Activist Communique: Toronto’s Seedy Side

Coming off as one of the most magical and successful aspects of Occupy Toronto, Occupy Gardens took root in our city starting at St. James Park back in the fall of 2011.

Against all odds – ok, there were many many odds both human and nature in origin – Occupy Gardens survived while Occupy Toronto proper did not during the winter months.

By the love of volunteers – who carried seeds to term in their hearts – Occupy Gardens emerged fresh in the spring of 2012.

There were seed-bomb making workshops and guerrilla gardening in undisclosed locations (though maybe you biked past of the those locations, got off your thin, iron horse to smell the roses).

The glory was saved for May Day 2012 when Occupy Gardens decided to occupy a portion of Queen Park’s lawn as an ultimate gardening project.

Seeds were joyfully planted and tended to at both the best of times and the worst of times.

Emergency water runs were organized throughout the summer to cope with the drought.

Tears were shed when plants were uprooted in the indignity of an above-ground burial.

But! All was not lost as Occupy Gardens carried on with another Occupy Gardens May Day celebrations again this year and so much more.

One of this year’s major projects is a Toronto Seed Library.

This year’s volunteers are being asked to gather at the INside Basement Kitchen at Scadding Court Community Centre (Bathurst & Dundas on Thursday May 16, starting at 6:00 pm.

The call out reads: “Interested in borrowing free Non GMO seeds? Interested in learning more about the Toronto Seed Library? How about starting and or arts and crafting one of the many new branches of the TSL? Even wonder how fun it might bee representing the roaming seed library and sharing free seeds at community events? Or you just want to help us in a hands on way by sorting, packing and labeling seeds? If you answered yes to any or all of the above then this seedy volunteer orientation and work/play bee is for you!”

Please email [email protected] to sign up to our seedy newsletter and 2 bee involved in this Moist Seedy Movement!

Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...