Sustainable Garden Expo promotes planning for spring planting

Vendors and shoppers at theSustainable Garden Expo in Fredericton are fed up with the snow and are anxious for the arrival of spring.

Withsnowstillcovering much of New Brunswick,and more on the way, vendors at the annual event promoted new seeds, full gardens and backyard birds.

Madeleine Berrevoets says the event has never been more popular and it hasgrown a lotover the short couple of years she's helped host it.

"The goal is education and the goal is community," saidBerrevoets. "Ourfocus is growing food, growing minds and growing community. We want people to know what's going on in their community, we want people to get outside, and we want people to learn."

Berrevoets saideven if people have just a small plot of dirt in their backyard, or even on their balcony, they can grow food instead of buying it off the shelf.

"Even if they don't have a backyard space they can sign up for a space at one of ourcommunitygardens,"saidBerrevoets.

"They can learn everything they need to know to grow a garden successfully right here with us."

Amongthe garden planners, and seed libraries, birds have been making a niche at theExpoas well.

Layinghens andquailswere on display, both species known for their edible eggs.

"People like to eat what they can grow and I guess that's starting to move into eggs as well," said Richard Hefling.

Helfing build coops for backyards hens that comply withthe cities codes. There's been a market for hiscedarcoops eversincethe city of Fredericton dropped their bylaws barring hens in 2013.

"There's been a lot of interest this spring," said Hefling. "More than last.But in the city you're only allowed three or four hens, so they have to be fairly small and it has to look nice."