Growing opportunity

Glenelm

Although they may be a little late in coming, the signs of spring are undeniably here.

Look no further than the work already going into preparing for the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association (GeNA)’s seventh annual Sweets & Seeds — a bake sale, seed and sprout swap, and maker’s market — which takes place on the Saturday of May long weekend each year.

“We have people from the neighbourhood get together to sell things they’ve created, as well as a plan and seed swap and bake sale,” said GeNA co-chair Rod Kennish. “It’s a really fun community-based event, entirely done by volunteers. It’s important to be working towards the neighbourhood you want to see.”

This year’s event, which takes place on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will also feature the Glenelm Sprouts kids’ market, which made its debut last year and is already looking to be bigger and better this time around.

“We had a complete variety of products, not a lot of overlap,” said Jamie Skinner, who is co-ordinating the Sprouts market for a second year. “They were all very professionally displayed and presented, and were so good at starting those conversations with people coming through, about what they made and why they made it.”

“It was a lot of fun,” Kennish said. “The kids really enjoyed it. They made a lot of cool stuff. It brought a more communal, family environment to the event. Not that it was lacking before. But it always helps to make things feel more welcoming when many generations are involved.”

Last year’s Sprouts market featured six vendors selling everything keychains and bath bombs to hair clips, mini-notebooks, and jewelry, with nine kids taking part in making and selling the products. Skinner noted she was inspired by a similar kids’ market put on by Royal Dance at the Forks when she pitched the Glenelm Sprouts market last year.

“They’re really good at providing information and resources to help the kids prepare,” she said. “I borrowed some things from their tips sheet.”

Skinner’s daughter Vera Selinger, 11, was one of nine children to take part in the market last year, making and selling window crystals, bracelets and paper flowers.

“It was really fun,” she said. “We got a good amount of money. Everyone was really supportive. It was really nice to see how many people came to support the community.”

Selinger said she will be back this year, and also helped co-host a workshop on March 23 to help prepare kids for this year’s market.

“We’re trying to encourage new kids to consider doing this by helping them through it,” Skinner said. “I asked kids who have done it before to come back and lend their expertise, or even just how much money they made, to encourage others to try it out.”

“We’re going to tell them how to come up with ideas,” Selinger said. “Do stuff you think other people would like to buy, but also what you would want to buy, and how to prepare for the sale with displays and how to promote it, what to bring. Obviously the stuff you’re going to sell, but also a notebook and pen, so you can write down what you sold, water, things to make your table look nice, and anything to display your wares.”

“It’s really kid driven,” Skinner added. “The really nice thing last year is we had kids from the local English school, but also some from the DSFM, so we’re trying to spread the word to all the kids in the neighbourhood.”

The Sweets & Seeds market kicks off a busy summer for GeNA, with plenty of activities for neighbours and those visiting the neighbourhood as well.

“We do a number of events over the summer, and everyone is welcome to attend,” Kennish said.

For more information, visit glenelm.ca