Gardening season is just around the corner, and to help residents prepare, Merriweather Home + Market will host its annual seed swap.
The swap is Friday, April 11, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Merriweather Home + Market, 25 S. Elm St. It will be held in collaboration with Thistle & Co Flower Farm, Vibrant Earth Seeds, and the Mesa Verde Garden Club, which are “dedicated to enriching the local gardening community through education and experience in all aspects of horticulture and gardening.”
Attendees are asked to label their seeds with the type and care instructions. Everyone is welcome, even those without seeds. Helpers will be assist with seed selection.
Vegetable and flower plant starters also will be for sale. The seed swap is free, and refreshments and gifts will be provided with a purchase.
“We’d love for people to come with their own seeds, labeled, to swap, but if they don't have any to share, that's OK too,” said Erin Hansen, owner of Merriweather Home + Market. “They can still come and participate, and leave with an excellent supply of seeds.”
Hansen said she hopes to see more heirloom seeds this year.
“We always get such a great variety of seeds, but I'd really love to see more heirloom seeds,” Hansen said. “We have a lot of families that have farmed and gardened for generations, and to share those seeds would be amazing to have in the garden.”
Attendance has doubled each year.
“Our goal is to bring people together, share the love of gardening and inspire others to try gardening,” Hansen said. “There's a great saying that goes something like this: Teach a woman to fish, she'll eat for a day. Teach her to garden and the whole neighborhood gets a zucchini. Wouldn't that be something?”
