SFA Gardens and Resilient Nacogdoches welcome gardeners and seed savers to join in Nacogdoches’ fifth annual seed swap beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
“Seed swaps are a fun way to learn about seeds and gardening, build community, and increase food diversity and local resilience. You leave the seed swap with new seeds, new information and new friends,” said Vicki Lunell, a member of Resilient Nacogdoches who helped start the seed swap tradition in Nacogdoches five years ago.
Leftover seeds will be donated to the Judy B. McDonald Public Library’s seed library and shared with school and community gardens.
The seed swap is free and open to the public. Donations are gladly accepted and support Nacogdoches Naturally, the SFA Gardens afterschool gardening club. The Pineywoods Native Plant Center is located at 2900 Raguet St. For more information, contact Jocelyn Moore at (936) 468-1863 or moorejv@sfasu.edu.
How the Nacogdoches Seed Swap works
All viable flower, herb, vegetable and tree seeds may be swapped, whether purchased at a nursery or saved from your own garden. Viable seeds are typically not more than a few years old and have been stored in a dark, dry and cool environment. Saved seeds that thrive in the East Texas climate are highly encouraged.
Participants should bring their seeds labeled with the variety and year collected or bought. Seeds do not need to be individually packaged. They can be brought in their existing packets or containers. Envelopes will be provided for attendees to take home small samples of seeds.
Volunteers will help attendees display their seeds on appropriate tables — vegetable, herb, flower, tree, mystery, etc. After all the seeds are displayed, swapping begins. There is no limit to the number of seeds participants may take home, but generally, participants should bring home about as many seeds as they brought.
Are you new to gardening and don’t have any seeds to bring? That’s OK. There are always plenty of seeds to go around, and newcomers are welcome to take home what they need to begin their garden.
