Seed swap

A seed swap in Urbana, Illinois

Seed swaps are events where gardeners meet to exchange seeds. Swapping can be arranged online or by mail,[1] especially when participants are spread out geographically. Swap meet events, where growers meet and exchange their excess seeds in person, are also growing in popularity. In part this is due to increased interest in organic gardening and heritage or heirloom plant varietals. This reflects gardeners' interest in "unusual or particular varieties of flowers and vegetables", according to Kathy Jentz of Washington Gardener Magazine (Maryland).[2]

Seed swaps also help consumers who, due to increases in the cost of living or cut down on expenditures, wish to grow their own food.[3][4] Some events are organized as part of an educational effort, where visitors are taught gardening and growing skills[5][6] and how to preserve an area's cultural heritage[7] and biodiversity.[8] In the United States, the last Saturday of January is "National Seed Swap Day".[9][10][11]

  1. ^ In England, the Cottage Garden Society organizes an annual seed exchange, where members mail in their seeds to the Society; members may then select a number of kinds of seed from a list of submissions. Bennett, Jill (July 2008). "Seed Distribution Programme". Cottage Garden Society. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  2. ^ Dutton, Melissa Kossler (29 May 2009). "Up For Grabs: Gardeners Gather to Swap Seeds, Know-how". Montgomery Advertiser. pp. D1.
  3. ^ Nicholson, Scott (24 March 2008). "Seed swap sprouts garden traditions". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  4. ^ Gray, Rich (2005). The Frugal Senior: Hundreds of Creative Ways to Stretch a Dollar!. Quill Driver Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-884956-49-2.
  5. ^ Nicholson, Scott (23 February 2007). "Organic Growers School and Seed Swap coming up March 3". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  6. ^ "First seed-swap event for gardeners". Bristol Evening Post. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  7. ^ Carrier, Susan (24 January 2009). "Seed Swap Day of Action events in Southern California". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  8. ^ Shearer, Lee (28 April 2008). "Seed swap maintains diversity, knowledge of Southern plants". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  9. ^ Rufus, Anneli; Kristan Lawson (April 2008). "Seed swapping: An established way to share and trade seeds". Plenty. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Seed Exchange Event". 2007. Rochester Civic Garden Center. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  11. ^ The Editors of Chase's (2004). Chase's ... calendar of events. McGraw-Hill. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-07-159956-6. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)