We are gratefully accepting donations of non-GMO seeds from individuals, community groups, businesses and especially specialized seed growers of heirloom, northern adapted seeds. Below is a list of our donors so far. We would LOVE to add you to our list. Write to us at seedysaturdayaylmer@gmail.com
A huge thank you to our incredibly generous seed donors. You are at the heart of our event.
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Seeds of Diversity Canada
Born in 1984 from a shared concern over the loss of genetic diversity in our food systems, Seeds of Diversity (originally the Heritage Seed Program) has grown into Canada’s leading non-profit for the preservation of heirloom and endangered food crops. For over 40 years, this grassroots network of gardeners and farmers has worked to “search out, preserve, and study” the varieties that lead seed catalogs have long since dropped.
The organization is a cornerstone of the Canadian seed movement, coordinating over 150 Seedy Saturday events annually and managing the Canadian Seed Library—a vital back-up collection of over 2,300 rare varieties. Beyond seed saving, they are champions of pollinator health through their “Pollination Canada” initiative. By bridging the gap between institutional seed banks and backyard gardeners, Seeds of Diversity ensures that our botanical heritage remains a living, breathing part of Canada’s future food security.
URL: https://seeds.ca/
Les Semis de la Seigneurie (Aylmer, Quebec)
Les Semis de la Seigneurie is a small seed company operating out of Aylmer, and we are so excited to receive such generous support so close to home! Their mission is simple and powerful: to help local gardeners grow more food at home using affordable, rigorously tested seeds that are specifically suited to our challenging northern climate, particularly Quebec’s Zone 4b. Their offerings cover an extensive range, including vegetable, herb, and flower seeds—from tomatoes and peppers to unique fruits and greens—alongside seasonal plant starts for those who want a head start (available for Quebec delivery in season). For anyone dedicated to feeding their family and community with homegrown goodness, Les Semis de la Seigneurie is an essential, hyperlocal resource built on the principle that high-quality gardening should be accessible to everyone.
What we love about Les Semis de la Seigneurie is their commitment to our local community, and their philosophy centered on practical, resilient gardening. Their passion for making gardening easy is evident not only in their budget-conscious pricing but also in the rich educational content they provide, covering everything from managing garden pests naturally to timing your planting just right. By focusing on seeds that thrive here and making them affordable, they remove a major barrier to food security and local resilience. This thoughtful approach, combined with their generosity in contributing tested, local-ready seeds for our first Seedy Saturday Aylmer, is why we love having this community-focused company here in our neighbourhood.
URL: https://www.semisseigneurie.ca
Localeaf Native Plant Nursery (Aylmer, Quebec)
We are Localeaf, a small social enterprise located here in Aylmer. Our passion is helping our community transition to sustainable gardening practices and working with community partners to turn underused laws into thriving and biodiverse ecosystems. As a social enterprise, we proudly donate a large portion of our profits to support aligned local projects and initiatives, building school and community gardens, pollinator patches, food forests and tiny urban forests.
Our native plant nursery embodies this commitment, focusing on growing native plant species locally, from local seed, using sustainable gardening, planting and harvesting practices. We prioritize growing native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, grasses and vines with the highest pollinator value, as well as growing out and improving access to rare, endangered and non-commercial native species. We created Localeaf from a desire to be a different kind of nursery, one that prioritizes wildlife habitat, community restoration, and knowledge-sharing over profit. Our philosophy is centered on ethical growing, biodiversity, reciprocity, and creating spaces where humans and nature can flourish together.
Our commitment to seeds is the foundation of everything we do, and we are happy to donate seeds to our community’s first ever Seedy Saturday event. Harvested from our own demonstration gardens right here in Aylmer North, we proudly donated native seeds from over 50 different species, which were packaged by Pollinate Aylmer volunteers. Beyond natives, we are also donating a variety of heirloom vegetable seeds harvested and collected from our edible gardens, alongside annual companion flowers, rare medicinal, herbal, and dye plant seeds—all grown and harvested locally in Aylmer.
URL: https://localeaf.ca/about-us/
Akène (Laurentides, Quebec)
Nestled in the Laurentian forest, Akène is an artisanal seed producer with a vital mission: to restore biodiversity by making Quebec’s native plants accessible to everyone. Founded by Philippe Denis, Akène functions as a living laboratory where they cultivate, propagate, and preserve native species that are perfectly adapted to our local climate. From forest-dwelling medicinal plants to nectar-rich wildflowers, their seeds offer a sustainable way for gardeners and communities to actively participate in ecological restoration and seed autonomy.
URL: https://akene.ca/
Botanix Cloutier (Chelsea, Quebec)
A beloved fixture in the Outaouais gardening community, Botanix Cloutier (Centre Jardin Cloutier) has been a family-run destination in Chelsea since 1980. They are dedicated to helping local gardeners create beautiful, resilient green spaces with a focus on personalized advice and high-quality plants. Their involvement highlights their long-standing commitment to nurturing the horticultural passion of our region.
URL: https://botanixcloutier.ca/
La société des plantes (Kamouraska, Quebec)
Located in the Kamouraska valley, La société des plantes is a visionary farm led by Patrice Fortier. They specialize in artisanal, certified organic seeds that celebrate biodiversity, from ancestral vegetables and rare plants to unique northern-hardy varieties. Their work combines a touch of poetry with a deep respect for seed-saving traditions, offering gardeners seeds that are as delicious as they are resilient.
URL: https://www.lasocietedesplantes.com/
Northern Seeds (Farrellton, Quebec)
Based in the Gatineau Hills, Northern Seeds is an organic farm dedicated to providing high-quality, open-pollinated seeds that thrive in our short northern growing seasons. Catherine, the founder, brings years of homesteading and seed-saving experience to her Farrellton-based farm. Every seed they offer is grown with environmental consciousness at its heart, ensuring your garden is both productive and planet-friendly.
URL: https://northernseeds.ca/
W.H. Perron (Laval, Quebec)
With a rich history dating back to 1928, W.H. Perron is a cornerstone of Canadian horticulture. Founded by agronomist Wilfrid-Henri Perron, the company has spent nearly a century providing gardeners with premium seeds and expertise. Their vast catalog includes everything from time-tested heirloom favorites to innovative new varieties, all backed by a legacy of passion for the Quebec gardening landscape.
Semences du Portage (Saint-Didace, Quebec)
A cornerstone of the Quebec organic seed movement, Semences du Portage is a family-run enterprise born from the legendary Jardins du Grand-Portage. Now based in Montreal, Catherine Gagnon-Mackay continues her family’s legacy by offering high-quality, open-pollinated, and certified organic seeds. Their mission is rooted in food self-sufficiency and biodiversity, providing gardeners with resilient varieties—including their famous Savignac tomato—that are perfectly adapted to our northern climate.
URL: https://semencesduportage.com/
Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm (Les Cèdres, Quebec)
Tourne-Sol Co-operative Farm in Les Cèdres, Québec, is a worker-owned farm specializing in certified organic, open-pollinated seeds bred for resilience in the our climate. Our catalog features vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are trialed and selected on-farm for vigor, flavor, and local adaptation.
URL: https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/
The Ecumene (Saint-Damien , Quebec)
Les Jardins de l’Écoumène is a pioneer of the organic movement in Quebec, having cultivated a deep legacy in the mountains of Saint-Damien since 2001. More than just a seed house, they are dedicated artisans of biodiversity, offering a wide range of certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower seeds that are specifically selected for their resilience and adaptation to our northern climate. Their gardens are guided by the principles of permaculture, ensuring that every seed is grown with the strength of a chemical-free, ecologically balanced environment. From high-performance garden staples to unique ancestral varieties that have been passed down through generations, Écoumène provides the foundational quality needed to grow a garden that is as healthy as it is productive.
What we love about Les Jardins de l’Écoumène is their holistic approach to the “living soil” and their commitment to food autonomy. They don’t just sell seeds; they advocate for an entire ecosystem, offering specialized organic amendments and educational resources that help gardeners understand the connection between soil health and plant vitality. We love them for their leadership in preserving rare genetic lines and for their collaborative spirit, working with a network of local producers to strengthen our regional seed security.
Ritchie Feed & Seed (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ritchie Feed & Seed is a cornerstone for gardeners and bird enthusiasts, rooted across the river in Ottawa since 1927. Beyond simply a garden centre, Ritchie’s is an institution focused on nurturing the natural world, specializing in everything from non-GMO seeds, premium soils, and quality tools, to planting stock like shrubs and trees across their five locations. They operate with a philosophy centered on supporting the entire lifecycle of a garden, which is how they came to be a trusted source for materials to nourish home gardens, pollinator patches, small farms, or even indoor plants for nearly a century
Our appreciation for Ritchie’s goes far beyond their impressive product range, landing squarely on their pioneering ecological commitment and generosity. They have increasingly been moving toward sourcing their plants locally and sustainably and distinguish themselves from traditional large nurseries through their environmental leadership. They are the first large-scale nursery we know of in the region to voluntarily label all invasive plants, actively educating and guiding customers toward responsible, nature-friendly choices. This powerful, proactive stand for ecological health, combined with their incredible donation of non-GMO seeds for our Seedy Saturday Aylmer giveaway, is why we love them—they demonstrate a rare commitment to community and sustainable gardening that perfectly matches our own values.
URL: https://www.ritchiefeed.com/
The Good Shit (Eastern Ontario)
The Good Shit is a regenerative gardening social enterprise from rural eastern Ontario that works in closed loops with soil, animals, plants, and people. Their chickens, rabbits, and goats help cycle nutrients back into the soil, building living soil that grows healthy, resilient food. They focus on regeneration over extraction, soil health, and food sovereignty through practical, ecologically grounded practices.
Their nonprofit arm, The Good Garden, was born from the need to make sustainable growing accessible to all. It empowers individuals, families, and community groups with garden infrastructure, hands-on support, and sponsored growing programs that strengthen food access, local food systems, and community wellness.
We love working and collaborating with other like-minded organizations, particularly other social enterprises, who prioritize people and planet over extraction and profit. Since Localeaf launched, The Good Shit has been an invaluable mentor, sharing wisdom and guidance that has helped us navigate and structure own social enterprise. Their dedication to empowering local food systems and strengthening community is why we are so excited to feature their generous donation of seeds for our first Seedy Saturday Aylmer event.
URL: https://spreadthegoodshit.ca/
Northern Wildflowers (Sudbury, Ontario)
Northern Wildflowers, based outside Sudbury, in Northeastern Ontario, is a seed company built on the principle of local ecological integrity, and as their long time customers, we are thrilled to have them as a seed donor. They are a dedicated Canadian, family-owned operation focused on nurturing biodiversity by offering one of the largest selections of Ontario local eco-type native seeds available. They are a go to source for everything from essential wildflower mixes and native grasses to shrubs and trees—all pollinator-friendly, non-GMO, untreated, and chemical-free. They also carry a line of vegetable seeds, ensuring that their philosophy of responsible, Canadian-grown seed extends to food gardens as well.
We especially love Northern Wildflowers for their active commitment to community initiatives. Rather than simply selling seeds, they recently reached out to community groups like ours, selecting our very own Butterflyway Aylmer project to receive a generous donation of native and vegetable seed packs. This direct investment in local, grassroots projects demonstrate a business philosophy closely aligned with ours, focusing on making native species available to northern climates, encouraging and enabling local efforts.
URL: https://northernwildflowers.ca/
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library
Founded in 2020, the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library is a 100% grassroots, volunteer-run organization dedicated to restoring local ecosystems. Built on the pillars of free access, education, and reciprocity, the library operates just like a traditional book library: gardeners “check out” native seeds and plants for free and are encouraged to “check in” seeds from their successful harvests to replenish the stock.
By focusing exclusively on straight native species (no cultivars), the library helps gardeners create vital habitat corridors for bees, butterflies, and birds. Their mission goes beyond the garden, viewing native planting as a tangible act of climate action and Indigenous reconciliation. Today, the library serves thousands of projects across the region, providing a science-based community resource for anyone looking to decolonize their green space and support local biodiversity.
URL: https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/
North American Native Plant Society (NANPS)
Founded in 1985 as the Canadian Wildflower Society, the North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) is a volunteer-led non-profit dedicated to the conservation and restoration of native flora across the continent. NANPS operates on the fundamental belief that native plants are the backbone of a healthy ecosystem. Through its popular seed exchange, annual plant sales, and the publication of The Blazing Star, the society provides gardeners and conservationists with the resources needed to restore natural habitats.
Beyond education, NANPS takes a hands-on approach to preservation by managing its own nature reserves and advocating for the protection of endangered plant species. By bridging the gap between scientific research and home gardening, NANPS empowers individuals to transform their landscapes into productive habitats that support local pollinators and wildlife. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned botanist, the society offers a wealth of knowledge to help you celebrate and protect North America’s diverse botanical heritage.
URL: https://nanps.org/
Rainbow Seeds (Petitcodiac, New Brunswick)
A family-owned business based in the Maritimes, Rainbow Seeds is dedicated to preserving biodiversity through heirloom and open-pollinated seeds. They are passionate about rare and colorful varieties that bring a unique touch to the garden, ensuring every seed is hardy and well-suited for cooler climates. Their commitment to seed autonomy makes them a natural fit for community exchanges.
URL:: https://www.rainbowseeds.ca/
West Coast Seeds (Delta, British Columbia)
Founded in 1983 in British Columbia, West Coast Seeds is built on the pillars of organic gardening and sustainability. They specialize in non-GMO, untreated, and open-pollinated seeds designed for gardeners who prioritize soil health and pollinator protection. While based out West, their varieties are renowned across Canada for exceptional germination rates and reliability in home vegetable gardens.
URL: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/
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