2025 Seed Swap
Fall Greetings to our fellow Master Gardeners!
We are planning the final touches to our 2025 Seed Swap and excited to have more seeds than ever as well as more space and a modified format where we will offer some mini class/demo workshops on a rotating basis throughout the Swap. To help us succeed we need your help! If you are interested in doing one of the mini classes or training as a seed packaging lead, please contact Susan Gingrich at [email protected] or call at 540-623-9735. I don't always answer unfamiliar numbers, but I do listen to messages and return calls!
Seed Packaging Events will be held at the Rowser Building classroom from 10 am -2 pm on the following dates: Thursday, October 3; Tuesday, October 8; Thursday, October 17; and Tuesday, November 12. Tractor Supply donated just over 2200 seed packages and we have 1200 seed packages coming from Hart Seed as well as hundreds of packages from other companies. We will focus on subdividing flowers and herbs as they are in greatest demand. Please come for part or all of the sessions as your time allows! If you took envelopes home last year to turn into seed packages and you still have them, please finish making them into seed packages and bring them to these meetings. It will help things go faster!
Mini class/Demo Workshop Teachers are needed for the Seed Swap on February 1, 2025 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. We are looking for master gardeners willing to teach a class/workshop for about 20 minutes several times throughout the Seed Swap in the following areas: basic seed starting how and when, all things mulch, starting plants from cuttings basics.
Seed Packaging Lead to shadow Arlene and be able to carry her great work into future Seed Swaps is needed so we can have a smooth transition for 2026. Arlene has been doing this for the past 6-7 years at least and while she still wants to be involved and is leading it this year, she would like to be able to do other things and is ready to train someone else. You will have a lot of support from all of us and can add your ideas to make the Seed Swap continue to be successful.
Thank you all for volunteering in so many ways. As usual a sign up genius will go out in January for the usual staffing the day of the event. With your help with the requests above and on February 1, we can make Seed Swap 2025 the best yet!!
Sincerely,
Susan Gingrich Joan Pope Kirstin Nason
We are planning the final touches to our 2025 Seed Swap and excited to have more seeds than ever as well as more space and a modified format where we will offer some mini class/demo workshops on a rotating basis throughout the Swap. To help us succeed we need your help! If you are interested in doing one of the mini classes or training as a seed packaging lead, please contact Susan Gingrich at [email protected] or call at 540-623-9735. I don't always answer unfamiliar numbers, but I do listen to messages and return calls!
Seed Packaging Events will be held at the Rowser Building classroom from 10 am -2 pm on the following dates: Thursday, October 3; Tuesday, October 8; Thursday, October 17; and Tuesday, November 12. Tractor Supply donated just over 2200 seed packages and we have 1200 seed packages coming from Hart Seed as well as hundreds of packages from other companies. We will focus on subdividing flowers and herbs as they are in greatest demand. Please come for part or all of the sessions as your time allows! If you took envelopes home last year to turn into seed packages and you still have them, please finish making them into seed packages and bring them to these meetings. It will help things go faster!
Mini class/Demo Workshop Teachers are needed for the Seed Swap on February 1, 2025 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. We are looking for master gardeners willing to teach a class/workshop for about 20 minutes several times throughout the Seed Swap in the following areas: basic seed starting how and when, all things mulch, starting plants from cuttings basics.
Seed Packaging Lead to shadow Arlene and be able to carry her great work into future Seed Swaps is needed so we can have a smooth transition for 2026. Arlene has been doing this for the past 6-7 years at least and while she still wants to be involved and is leading it this year, she would like to be able to do other things and is ready to train someone else. You will have a lot of support from all of us and can add your ideas to make the Seed Swap continue to be successful.
Thank you all for volunteering in so many ways. As usual a sign up genius will go out in January for the usual staffing the day of the event. With your help with the requests above and on February 1, we can make Seed Swap 2025 the best yet!!
Sincerely,
Susan Gingrich Joan Pope Kirstin Nason
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Save Your Seeds and Save the Date!
Gardeners, now is the time to SAVE your seeds! Master Gardeners are planning their annual Seed Swap to be held on February 1, 2025, from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 20 Boscobel Rd, Fredericksburg, VA. More information on speakers and workshops to come! Don’t have seeds to trade? No problem! There will be plenty of seeds to share. This is a great opportunity to exchange garden tips, learn from experts, and get encouragement to try something new from fellow gardeners! Don’t miss the FREE TRADE TABLE, where you can bring usable garden-related items that you are ready to pass on. Bring your seeds in labeled and dated envelopes. Hybrids, noxious, and invasive seeds are not allowed. Please visit the Seed Swap page on www.mgacra.org for more information and resources. |
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
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
| do-it-yourself_seed_envelop_directions.pdf |
| avery5260labels_202__insert_year.pdf |
Seed Swap 2024 Blew Expectations Out of the Water
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!
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!
2024 Seed Swap Photos
by Lynn Ellis
Please Patronize our Seed Swap Sponsors
Burpee: www.burpee.com
Colesville Nursery: www.colesvillenursery.com
Earls True Value Hardware: https://stores.truevalue.com/va/fredericksburg
Hart Seed: www.hartseed.com
Gardening Gays Farm: www.facebook.com/KingGeorgeGardeningGays/
Meadows Farms Nurseries in Fredericksburg: https://www.meadowsfarms.com/hours-locations/fredericksburg/
Territorial Seed Company: www.territorialseed.com
Tractor Supply Company: www.tractorsupply.com
James Madison Garden: https://www.facebook.com/groups/513736422372388
Burpee: www.burpee.com
Colesville Nursery: www.colesvillenursery.com
Earls True Value Hardware: https://stores.truevalue.com/va/fredericksburg
Hart Seed: www.hartseed.com
Gardening Gays Farm: www.facebook.com/KingGeorgeGardeningGays/
Meadows Farms Nurseries in Fredericksburg: https://www.meadowsfarms.com/hours-locations/fredericksburg/
Territorial Seed Company: www.territorialseed.com
Tractor Supply Company: www.tractorsupply.com
James Madison Garden: https://www.facebook.com/groups/513736422372388
2024 Seed Swap Preparation
7th Annual 2023 Seed Swap
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!
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!
Photos by Walter Hamm
2023 Seed Packaging Event
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6th Annual Seed Swap, 2022
Photos by Sean McLaurin
Tips on Saving and Sharing Seeds for a Seed Swap:
http://info.plantsmap.com/journal/saving-and-sharing-seeds-for-a-seed-swap
http://info.plantsmap.com/journal/saving-and-sharing-seeds-for-a-seed-swap
Seed Packet Preparation 2022
photos by Susan Kenney
Please Support our 2022 Sponsors
https://www.victoryseeds.com/
https://territorialseed.com
https://www.seedsavers.org/
https://parkseed.com
https://meadowsfarms.com/locations/fredericksburg
www.facebook.com/groups/513736422372388/posts/
https://stores.truevalue.com/va/fredericksburg/7943/
https://www.burpee.com
