Seed swappers to gather Feb. 9 at Bona Thompson Memorial Center in Irvington. Photo courtesy Peter Kuhns
In a tradition that’s been around for millennia, people swap seeds. They willingly share seeds from their vegetables, herbs or flowers with friends, farmers, neighbors and others. In return they get seeds they want to try. Everyone wins.
Peter Kuhns in Irvington was inspired to start a seed swap after volunteering several years at the Heritage Fall Festival at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“I didn’t see any decent swaps in Indianapolis, so I created my own,” Kuhns said. Now in its 6th year, the Great Indy Seed Swap will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at Irvington’s Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Blvd.
Seed swaps
People pay $10 a table to sell seeds. Those who trade seeds do not pay a fee for a table. Admission is free and everyone who comes is invited to bring seeds to trade. “People always say, ‘oh, I have seeds at home, but I didn’t think about bringing them.’ It happens all the time,” he said.
The Michiana Regional Seed Swap will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 at Goshen High School, 401 Lincolnway East. Hosted by the Goshen College’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, the event is free and open to the public. You don’t have to bring seeds, but if you have them, bring them along, organizers said.
The 2nd annual Central Indiana Seed Swap will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Sponsored by the Seed Committee of Hamilton County Master Gardener Association, the buy-sell-trade swap is free and open to the public.
The event also will have programs on starting seeds, saving them and heirloom plants. One of the speakers is John Coykendall, who will speak about his video “Deeply Rooted.” For nearly four decades, Coykendall’s passion has been preserving the heritage, seeds and stories, of a small, farming culture in Southeastern Louisiana. His work is the subject of a new documentary from Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Also, Circle City Seed and Plant Swap, sponsored by Females Farming Forward of Indiana Farmers Union, at the Indianapolis City market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16.
Seed Libraries
Master Gardener Deanne Heidrich prepares packets of seeds at Glendale Library. (C) Photo Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Five central Indiana communities have seed libraries, where patrons can borrow seeds, usually throughout the growing season.
“And you don’t have to return anything,” said Anika Williams, a librarian at the Pike Township Branch, Marion County Master Gardener and co-founder of the seed library at the Glendale Branch. The Spades Branch also has a seed library. Each offers programs in cooperation with Purdue Extension-Marion County to help gardeners succeed.
Funding for seed purchases comes from the Indianapolis Library Foundation, said Judy Gray, branch manager at Glendale. The seed libraries specialize in vegetables, herbs and flowers that are relatively easy to grow and of interest in their communities.
Other Central Indiana seed libraries: Carmel-Clay Public Library, Putnam County Public Library, Brown County (Nashville) Seed Library and Pendleton Community Library.