MOOSE JAW — This spring, Wild About Moose Jaw invites the community to dig into gardening with a purpose.
The local nature group is hosting a pollinator garden workshop and seed exchange to celebrate Earth Day from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at the Moose Jaw Public Library. The workshop aims to educate residents about the importance of native plants and the role they play in supporting at-risk pollinators.
“Even if everybody planted just one native flower, it would help one native pollinator,” said Kimberly Epp, founder of Wild About Moose Jaw. “Our native pollinators are really at risk, and a lot of people don’t realize that.”
The free event will feature a presentation by Naomi Hunter, a sustainable gardening advocate, permaculture expert, and leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party. Hunter, who was one of the first year-round residents of the Craik Sustainable Living Project, has developed vegetable and flower gardens in unconventional places, including repurposed parking lots and lawns.
“She’s going to walk people through the steps of getting rid of their lawn and creating a pollinator garden, even if they don’t know where to start,” explained Epp. “She’s also building a display and will be leaving a lot of time for questions.”
The event will also include a silent auction to raise funds for Wild About Moose Jaw’s new garden sign initiative. The signs, created with a donated design by local artist Vadym Vatskov, will be given to residents who create certified pollinator gardens.
To qualify for a sign, gardens should have at least 15 native species — including grasses, flowers, or shrubs — as well as a few plants specifically for butterflies and two water sources.
“We’re not going to be too strict,” Epp noted, “but 60 per cent native (planting throughout the yard) is a good target.”
The goal of the proposed sign campaign, Epp said, is to educate passersby and reduce the stigma surrounding natural-looking yards.
“Some people see wildflowers and think they’re weeds,” she said. “These signs help explain that the garden is intentional and beneficial. They’re also a beautiful way to show pride in creating pollinator habitat.”
A seed exchange will also be available in the library’s theatre, with hundreds of native flower seeds on offer. Attendees are welcome to take seeds home or bring their own to share — especially if they’re locally grown or native to the region.
“All the seeds I’m bringing have been stratified, which is important for our climate,” Epp said. “They’re ready to plant, and they’re all labelled (to denote)… whether they do best in sun or shade.”
Guests who bring their own seeds are encouraged to note the species, lighting requirements, and whether they have been stratified — although the labelling rules aren’t overly strict.
As a final note, Epp wished to emphasize the importance of waiting until spring temperatures have consistently reached 10 degrees Celsius before residents clean up their yards to protect hibernating insect pollinators and ground-nesting bees.
Residents can donate unused garden tools, equipment, or any other items in good condition for the silent auction to support the garden sign initiative by contacting Kimberly Epp on the “Wild About Moose Jaw” Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
The event will be held on the lower level of the Moose Jaw Public Library at 461 Langdon Crescent. Entry, seeds, and all activities are free of charge.
