Believe it or not, it is already time to start thinking about spring planting.
Now is the time to thumb through the multitude of seed catalogs and plan out what you want in your garden. However, for many home gardeners, the amount of seed in one packet is too much for use in one garden during one season, or the desired variety is unavailable for purchase. The solution: attend a community seed swap.
Seed swaps or seed exchanges are a wonderful resource. All in one setting, you can meet and network with other gardeners and farmers in your community while exchanging seeds and growing tips. Local seed swaps offer the opportunity to give and receive rare heirloom or unusual varieties that do well in the area. While many seed companies are now offering older heirloom varieties, some are still hard to find or not offered every year. The best source for these seeds is local gardeners and farmers who have saved their seed over the years, ensuring that the variety does well in the local environment.