As human history has shown, agriculture is one of the main staples in a flourishing society. Whether it’s growing grains to raise livestock or growing fresh produce, almost all food made to keep people alive has been because of agriculture. Although most people on average have little to no knowledge when it comes to the field of agriculture, an opportunity to learn more about the subject is set to happen in Grays Harbor County.
The Master Gardener Foundation of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties is set to host a Seed Saver Harvest Celebration this weekend in East County. The event, which is also operated by the Washington State University Master Gardener Program, will allow visitors to enjoy an afternoon of fun selecting seeds, potted, and bare root plants, while learning about dividing plants and harvesting potatoes.
Cindy Burton, who serves as a Master Gardener and lead organizer of the event, said the event is for the whole family, citing that while adults gather plant material for their yards, youth can learn about seeds and the many ways to plant them at a youth activity station.
“It’s an opportunity for people to get a bunch of free plant material and it gives folks an opportunity to expand their green thumb knowledge of gardening, whether it’s proper maintenance of a plant, where it should be planted, etc.,” Burton said. “Gardening is a great way to support native insects that have been affected by climate change.”
Burton said more than 12 Master Gardeners will be available at the event to help visitors pick out the plant material that will work best for their yards and personal needs. She said there will also be several demonstrations on plant division for popular landscaping plants. The newly divided plants will be available to take home. Burton couldn’t say how many people she anticipated to attend the event but said she is thrilled about it returning and that the format will be more time friendly to visitors compared to the last event, which was held in 2019.
“In the past, we’ve set it up differently. This year is more of an open house where people can at any time see what is available whereas the last time we had this, it was more set up as a presentation format where you arrive at a specific time to learn about a particular topic,” Burton said. “The more we garden, the less we as a society have to depend on relying on supermarkets for fresh produce or any other plant-based items. It’s important to be self-sustaining.”
The event will allow visitors to take home seeds or starters of more than 50 types of plants. According to Burton, almost all the plants shown can be planted for the fall season. She said plants better off for the spring will be discussed by Master Gardeners.
For people who are interested in attending the Seed Saver Harvest Celebration, the event will be held Sunday, Oct. 23 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds Demonstration Garden in Elma. The event is free to the public, and precautions, such as large tents, have been planned if weather conditions plan to be wet. For more information, people are encouraged to call the WSU Master Gardener Program extension at 360-482-2934.
