ROCKPORT—Rockport Public Library's second SEED FEST is approaching Saturday, April 11, and Julia Pierce, Deputy Director of the Rockport Public Library, anticipates this year will draw an even bigger crowd than last year, in part due to the varied educational exhibits and activities they plan to offer.

"One of our library patrons, Charlie Costello, approached us a couple of years ago with the idea of a spring seed swap, and we decided to take it a step further, make the day a SEED FEST—because who doesn't love a good fest?" she said. "Charlie is a big advocate of seed saving, growing and community."

From 9:30 a.m. to noon, visitors can browse educational exhibits and activities on both the upper and lower levels of the library covering seed-starting, pollinators, soil health, composting, native plants, heirloom vegetables, growing rice and grains in Maine, and Wabanaki food sovereignty.

"Last year we had wonderful exhibitors, such as the Knox Lincoln County beekeepers," said Pierce. "They not only provided great advice to potential new beekeepers, but they also gave out free resources and honey sticks — that was a big hit. Likewise, people were thrilled that we gave away free seed packets and hundreds of free tomato seedlings.

"This year, Charlie has started 50 different types of heirloom tomatoes, and we'll be giving away 600 plants. These are going to include varieties you won't be able to get at any of our local gardening centers. People who planted their seedlings last year came back to tell us all about the fun they had growing them, and the strange and wonderful tomatoes that came out in all kinds of different colors and stripes."

At 12:30 p.m., Petra Page-Mann, of Fruition Seeds, will deliver an interactive keynote presentation. Page-Mann and her nonprofit seed company are strong advocates of “gift culture", which involves giving away seeds to promote food cultivation and community building. This ethos aligns perfectly with the theme of SEED FEST.

"She is a big advocate of giving away seeds to various people and groups with help from financial donations, and she throws these seed-exchange parties to promote food cultivation, as well as growing tips, and eating together," said Pierce. "It's a great way to help unite communities together and get us all inspired."

"We live in a moment where it's not normal to share...," said Page-Mann, in a phone interview from New York. "We so highly prioritize individualism and accumulation and in other cultures, the beings that have the most abundance are the beings that share the most abundance. And seeds are brilliant embodiments, invitations, teachers of this system. They are so incredibly generous even as we commodify them, and here to nourish us."

Costello, a big proponent of gift culture himself, said the first time he got a greenhouse in 2009, his life changed. Tomatoes became his focus and sharing those seeds became his mission.

"Building community through seeds, one seed at a time, is what I do," he said. "This year, I have more than 50 varieties I've started and more than 1,500 plants. We'll bring about 600 seedlings to the SEED FEST and a bunch will go into the community a number of ways."

Costello said people who are interested in growing additional tomatoes from any seedlings they take home to follow the events calendar of Merryspring Nature Center, which will host a September tomato tasting with instructions on how to save seeds and regrow them.

Last year, seven organizations participated in SEED FEST. This year, there will be double the organizations, including Herbal Hummingbird Hub, Knox Lincoln County Beekeepers, Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Grains and Maine Grain Alliance, Maine Heirloom Seed Network, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Maine Rice Project at Ararat Farms, Merryspring Nature Center, Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds, Roots n Shoots, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Wild Seed Project.

"The event is also an opportunity for new organizations to introduce themselves and let us know what they've got going on," said Pierce. "For instance, Deb Soule, of Avena Botanicals will be introducing the Herbal Hummingbird Hub, which is a hummingbird preserve on the Avena Botanicals property.

"We'll also have the Maine Rice Project, from Ararat Farms in Lincolnville, which is a fairly new attempt to grow rice in Maine, and this is a great opportunity for their founder, Ben Rooney, to get the word out on this brand-new possible industry in Maine."

The event is generously sponsored by the Rockport Library Foundation.

Find out more about SEED FEST.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com