The 8th annual Seed Swap hosted by the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area (MGACRA) on January 27, 2024, according to one guest, “blew all expectations out of the water!” The public showed up an hour early and waited for the doors to open with over 300 guests in attendance. More people than ever saved seeds and brought them to the swap in addition to over 600 pounds of seeds that were donated. Organization this year reached a new high with color coded table cloths on the expanded seed tables along with signs, which allowed guests to immediately see where the seeds they were looking for were located. Seeds disappeared quickly and once again herbs and vegetable varieties were especially popular. Watch on this website, www.mgacra.org, for videos and information showing how you can save seeds and package them to bring to next year’s seed swap. The items in our book/magazine and miscellaneous swap areas were well received and found a new home. Our two speakers shared information on companion planting with herbs and pruning for a healthy landscaped and received high ratings from attendees (go to "Educational Recordings" to view presentations). Another popular area was the children’s activity area where over 75 fairy gardens were created. Thank you to all who supported MGACRA’s 2024 Seed Swap! Join us next year on January 25, 2025!
A FEW RULES: Please LABEL your seeds/plants with the common name (at a minimum) and the date. Please DO NOT BRING any hybrid seeds as they will not grow true. Please DO NOT BRING any invasive or noxious plants—see below for lists. Click for the invasive plant list for VA: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invsppdflist Click for the federal list of noxious weeds: http://www.invasive.org/species/list.cfm?id=16
MGACRA’s 7th annual Seed Swap on January 28, 2023 was a rousing success! Close to 200 people attended the seed swap with some coming from as far away as Montross and Hanover. An abundance of seeds were brought in from attendees which kept our seed packaging committee busy for most of the event. Seeds were grouped by categories of flowers, herbs, and vegetables and then again by specific variety. Most seed packets disappeared quickly. Herbs and vegetable varieties were especially popular and we are anticipating expanding our requests for seed donations as well as the seed give away area in the seed swap itself. Watch here on this website for upcoming videos and information showing how you can save seeds and package them to bring to next year’s seed swap. Not only were seeds swapped, but the items in our book/magazine and miscellaneous swap areas were well received and most items found a new home. Our two speakers shared information on quick fixes for disturbed soils and winter sowing and received high ratings from. attendees. Another popular area was the children’s activity area where young and older created fairy gardens to take home. Thank you to all who supported MGACRA’s 2023 Seed Swap! Join us next year for an expanded version on January 27, 2024!