Exchanging seeds locally can also help save money. By giving your surplus seeds from last season, you are able to receive something new to try without having to order a whole packet, or you may also save money by receiving seeds that you were planning on ordering. If you exchange seeds that someone has saved from their garden or seeds that are open-pollinated, then you can continue to save seeds from your harvests and forego having to purchase that variety in the future. You are also continuing a time-honored tradition of saving seed and helping to preserve varieties for future generations.
The Mill Spring Seed Swap will be held during the indoor farmers’ market at the Mill Spring Agricultural Development and Community Center at 156 School Road, Mill Spring on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. The event is free and open to all. Free seed catalogs from several different companies will be available for attendees to take home. Laura Brookshire, an AmeriCorps member and garden manager at the ag center, has received donated seeds from various seed companies and has saved seed from the ag center’s garden to exchange with attendees.
All seeds given to the ag center will be used in the ag center’s garden. If you are looking for whole packets of seeds, the Mill Spring Farm Store will debut its Sow True Seed display with more than 20 varieties of seeds to choose from in all. Sow True Seed is out of Asheville and offers varieties that are open-pollinated, heirloom and organic and well-suited to this area. If you have any questions, call Brookshire at 828-894-2281.
– article submitted by Laura Brookshire