About
SAM is an idea that germinated more than four years ago, far from where it is taking root today.
At first, this idea didn't even have a name. It was more of a little dream for the gardener I was. At the time, I lived in Carleton-sur-Mer. That's where I began to learn about seed saving. I learned to adapt my growing and harvesting methods. I made a lot of equipment. But above all, I learned a tremendous amount. This period was very formative and allowed me to lay the foundations for what I'm starting here.
I planted the seed in the Gaspé Peninsula, but when we decided to move to my hometown, I transplanted the little dream with it. Today, my project is taking root in Tête-à-la-Baleine, on the Lower North Shore.
Zone 3b, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, at the end of a flat bay, known as "La Baie-plate" (Flat Bay). A wonderful challenge for cultivating several varieties… and that's precisely the point. To discover which varieties thrive there, which need a helping hand, and which ones absolutely must be grown in a greenhouse. The hope of seeing certain plants adapt over the years. The dream of building gardens that can support my family and, while we're dreaming, perhaps even my community.
Today, Semences Artisanales de la Mer is still a young seedling, a small tree whose production remains modest. But sooner or later, you have to take the plunge. Here, there's no small farm to buy, not even a fallow field: everything has to be built from scratch. I started working on my gardens two years ago, but it was only late this year that I was able to launch my first real year of production. This late start, in an area where the season is short, has been a significant disadvantage, but I'm ready for next year.
In the meantime, I've had some great successes that I'm happy to share with you here. They're a mix of seeds from last year, as well as long-life seeds produced in previous years. The best I've done so far.
And the biggest part is yet to be built…
Happy gardening!
Samuel Monger
Artisanal Sea Seeds