Seed Swapping: One Person’s Seeds Become Another’s Garden

Posted by Lisa Carey

One person’s seeds are another person’s garden. Seed swapping is one of those items that one person has, that another person can find a use for. The use of swaps, “free cycles”, or recycling any product, good, or service is good for us all. Seed swapping is a great example of something that saves money, creates health, and helps the environment.

There are several different types groups available all types of swapping or recycling of goods. For example Craigslist, Repeats, and Free Cycle just to name a few. Seed swapping is just like many of those. You have seeds, another person wants a garden. You have seeds and you want more. So, you swap. Swapping can be done through several different types of groups. Your group for seed swapping can simply be a yahoo group or other social networking group service like MeetUp.com that you create or join in an attempt to swap your seeds for others that you may be interested in or providing someone else the opportunity to use your unwanted seeds. Other groups to join or create may be through your neighborhood, local gardening clubs and food co-ops.
If you prefer something already established and formalized, to use for your seed swapping needs you may want to learn more about The National Gardening Association which provides for two way swaps as well as provides a forum for wish lists and seeds available for trade. It is a free forum, as are many others, and provides you with an already established forum to indulge your passion for gardening and plants. In addition to the National Gardening Association there are location specific associations such as the:

• Garden State Heirloom Seed Society located in Delaware, NJ and seeks to promote the biodiversity of New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic area.
• The Heritage Seed Library (U.K.) Associated with the Henry Doubleday Research Association. Specialties: organic gardening and heirloom seed preservation.
• Seeds of Diversity (Canada): yearly seed exchange where members are able to obtain samples of over 1,500 varieties of seeds and plants, as well as Seedy Saturdays.
• Seed Savers Exchange, located in Decorah, Iowa. Most well known for their seed swapping catalog that includes literally thousands of vegetable and fruit listings. They also have a sister organization, The Flower and Herb Exchange.
• Seed Savers’ Network (Australia)
• Southern Seed Legacy Project: Focus on preserving the biodiversity of the U.S. South as well as hosting membership seed swap.

You may also want to explore paid membership organizations for trading your unused seeds such as the North American Lily Society and the North American Rock Garden Association, if you have an interest in those topics.
Benefits of seed swapping:

• Save money – instead of ordering from catalogs or shopping online or in a traditional store front you can use seeds that are already available to you, for free.
• Social networking with other and local gardeners.
• Joining in an effort to preserve plant biodiversity as well as protect heirloom varieties. “Our global food industries promote hyperproductive, hyperdurable varieties like your “typical tennis-ball tomato,” says National Gardening Association senior horticulturalist Charlie Nardozzi. Seed swaps are one of the best ways to preserve the old heirloom varieties of seeds and plants.
• Get to know other gardeners who are “like minded” with whom you can exchange valuable gardening and planting information and meet new friends.
• Many seed swapping groups also have discussion forums that include gardening tips, information on water gardens, ponds, fountains, vegetable gardening, and even organic gardening.
• You will also have the ability to locate hard to find seeds for swap as well as heirloom seeds (organically grown seeds that have not been “crossed” with any other plant.
• Possibly involve gardening experts in sharing their tips and tricks for gardening, as well as the importance of preserving global biodiversity.

How to Seed Swap or Trade
You can trade any number of seeds; however a “good trade” is considered 25 seeds. Seeds may be used for many years after purchase, however if you are making a trade it is only fair to let your “audience” know how old your seeds are. The age of the seed does affect the germination rates, and so older seeds may not be worth as much.
When making a trade, such as posting it online or offering it within a seed swapping group it is important to provide the following information:

• Name of the plant.
• Growing information.
• Whether the plant is an annual, biennial or, perennial.
• The date when the seed was collected.

Not only does it make your swap more “valuable” but it’s also common courtesy as you would want to know this information yourself.
Seeds could be stored using “recycled” seed packets, small envelopes like those used for keys or coins and then shipped using some sort of “cushion” such as paper towels, newspapers, bubble wrap or padded envelopes to protect the seeds from sorting and rolling machines in post offices.
Those joining seed swap groups are reminded that information provided online or during exchanges should be carefully monitored, to protect yourself from those who aren’t in it just for the seeds. However, there are many benefits, environmentally, monetarily and socially to joining a seed swap group. It can vary as much as learning about new varieties of plants to maintaining the plant life in your area. Whether you join a group online or in your community, you will get to enjoy these many benefits while doing something good for the environment and your pocket book.

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