Host a seed swap with local gardeners

February 23, 11:45 AMSF Gardening ExaminerChris McLaughlin

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Seed packets (Picture by Pro build)

The winter weather is starting to wear thin and Bay Area gardeners are chomping at the bit for spring to arrive.

Some of us are holding back for some little sign of spring and some brave gardening souls are already starting seeds indoors.

You’ve done some armchair gardening, sifted through catalogs and possibly ordered seeds. March is the perfect time to host a seed swap with the local gardeners in your neighborhood or circle of gardening friends.

Seed swaps are fabulous for saving money, trying plants you have never grown before, and to glean some valuable ideas and tips from other gardeners. Seed swap parties are by their very nature meant to be informal, easy-going get-togethers; you don’t have to pull out all the stops.

The party can be as simple or as involved as you'd like it to be. You can go out and buy one kind of seed packet times the number of people and everyone would get a packet of every type of seed. Or you can have everyone bring loose seeds and place the in Styrofoam cups, letting people take what they would like.

Don’t forget to invite some gardener wanna-bees to the party; you never know who you might be able to push over the edge into becoming a seed-collecting addict like the rest of us.

Personally, I think all gardeners should do their part to hook people onto a plant addiction. Just to seal the deal, you can turn them on to the online seed exchange group, Seed Savers Exchange.

For more on seed swaps check out How to Have a Seed Exchange Party.