As part of the Westport Library’s Seed Library initiative, two gardening-related programs are offered in June, both free and open to the public and located in the Library’s McManus Room. The Seed Library, located near the Library’s Reference area, is a place to check-out and exchange seeds for growing flowers and vegetables.
Friday, June 5, noon: Planting and eating without GMOs. Join health coach Carol Joy to learn about GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Find out what they are and why you should know about them, their potential health implications and how to avoid buying and planting them.
Joy is a health coach with over 20 years of experience educating and supporting individuals to take control of their health. She is the ConnFact Grassroots Leader for Southern Fairfield County, for which she educates consumers and health care professionals about GMO’s and other toxins. Carol is also the owner of Integrated Wellness LLC.
ConnFact secured the first-in-the-nation GMO labeling law in June 2013. The organization exists to empower Connecticut citizens to reclaim clean food, water, and air.
Eric Frisk will discuss saving heirloom and open-pollinated vegetable seeds. Learn about flower structure, maintaining varietal purity and seed storage to share and use next year. He will also demonstrate saving tomato seeds through the fermentation process.
Frisk is a University of Connecticut Master Gardener and Master Composter. He received the 2010 Hummingbird Award from the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm, which is awarded to local leaders in land preservation and sustainable food movement. He has been a gardener at Fairfield’s Drew Park Community Garden since 1995 and is the Chief Gardener in the Fairfield Teaching Garden, which is Connecticut’s only All-America Selection Display Garden.
For further information, phone 203-291-4800, or check westportlibrary.org.