‘It’s just amazing,’ says local gardener at Seedy Saturday (8 photos)

“Gardening, for me, is getting to see the miracle of this little seed turn into something that is almost a metre tall with fruits and vegetables on it that I can eat, and there are more little seeds inside the fruit, which means I can do this again next year. It’s just amazing.”

That from Lorraine DeFazio, who, along with fellow gardener Michael McFarling, occupied the Forest Heights Community Garden booth at the annual Seedy Saturday event at Sault College.

The Forest Heights Community Garden was one of 26 vendors at the 2020 exhibit, sponsored by The Sault Ste. Marie Horticultural Society, Seeds of Diversity Canada and Seed Change.

The garden offers 65 individual four feet by 10 feet gardening beds for rent, at a cost of $20 each for the gardening year (April to October).

Plots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Members garden organically, without using synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals.

“You can grow basically any kind of food you want except for potatoes because we are organic, so we’re looking to have crops that will not invite pests in the garden which are difficult to control,” DeFazio said.

Members must perform four hours of volunteer work for the garden, which involves performing tasks such as filling water barrels, cutting grass and pulling weeds.

“The rest of the time, you spend as much time as you want in your garden. You’re given keys to the shed which has all kinds of gardening tools in it,” DeFazio said.

“You get to socialize and get to know your neighbours in the garden. We’re very friendly and you’ll find if someone has an excess amount of zucchini they will share with you, and if you have too much lettuce you can share with other people...it’s good in that way.

Beginning in 2003, the Community Garden was originally located at 105 Allard St., next to the former Red Cross building, thanks to six partnering organizations receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

In 2017, the garden was moved to its current location at Forest Heights Park, located at 1 Princess Crescent, and renamed the Forest Heights Community Garden.

“It’s absolutely surprising how much you can grow in that four foot by ten-foot plot. It’s definitely a worthwhile pastime and endeavour,” DeFazio said.

To get a garden bed, call (705) 943-2207 or email 

Seedy Saturday attracted not only Sault and area vendors, but also visiting gardeners from other communities such as Sudbury and Peterborough.

The event also included presentations on gardening with native plants, tree management, creating a serene garden space and growing microgreens.