05/23/2026
Over 20 years ago, some very special seeds were gifted to the EcoGarden by Tim LaPointe. He developed the FERNIE ALPINE TOMATO, along with other Fernie gardeners helped grow and save the seeds too.
The FERNIE ALPINE TOMATO was told to be the best tomato to grow and thrive in Fernieβs unique and challenging growing conditions..When Tim left Fernie, he gifted the care of these special seeds to the EcoGarden.
We are proud that over 100 of these tomato plants will be available today to the community at the EcoGarden Swap & Sale from 10-2. Suggested minimum donation $5 each - Cash only.
We hope you will grow them, enjoy eating their delicious tomatoes, appreciate their history, save their seeds and share them. Gardeners can also return seeds to the EcoGarden as part of our Cold Climate Seed Library to help expand this variety.
Thanks to Dawn Deydey for caring for these seeds over the last 20 years. Thanks to the EcoGarden Advisory Committee for helping grow and care for the seedlings over the last 2 months and hosting the event today. Thanks to Mary Cosman for her dedication to hosting the Plant Swap & Sale event for over a decade, and developing the Cold Climate Seed Library. Thanks to the Wildsight Elk Valley Board members who help provide the framework so our community projects can thrive. Thanks to Tim LaPointe, Ingrid Sombrowski and the other gardeners who saved the FERNIE ALPINE TOMATO seeds before us. The power of volunteers continues to amaze us!