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Stepping into the Extension office, no one bothered to look up. Each of the 16 Master Gardeners were at work, heads down concentrating on the task at hand.
For several hours, the volunteers sat around a large table counting seeds, filling small cellophane envelopes and attaching labels describing the contents. Volunteers sat at their seats, getting up only to walk over to a table where the name, number and category of the seed packets were recorded and then placed on a table ready for the Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners’ annual seed swap event that will take place Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the RARA building on Spotswood Drive in Lexington.
The quiet sound of chatter filled the room as volunteers shared garden stories and how the seeds had been collected. Most of the seeds, hundreds upon hundreds of seeds being counted, were from the flower beds of the Master Gardeners volunteering that day.
Collecting seeds may sound easy, but not necessarily, said Master Gardener and project manager for the seed swap Dr. Karen Lyons. Given the time and effort that goes into collecting and preserving seeds, one might ask, why do it at all? One good reason is to save money, said Lyons. Buying packages of seeds in nurseries and box stores is expensive. A second, more cogent reason, is that seeds gleaned from one’s own garden, area or region are better adapted to local growing conditions and therefore more resilient.
Another consideration is by thoughtful observation and attention to plants while they are in bloom, one can identify by scent, color or size the plants from which to gather seeds in the fall to be planted in the spring, thereby enhancing his or her garden with the characteristic that pleases them the most.
More than most, Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners understand the merits of collecting seeds, said Lyons. Even more fun than collecting and planting seeds from one’s own garden is anticipating what new seeds might be found at the seed swap.
What is a seed swap? It’s a place where gardeners meet to exchange seeds. Seed swaps are a unique way to build community, share gardening experiences and learn about unique varieties of plants. Furthermore, seed swaps can serve to enhance biodiversity and preserve rare plant species.
The seed swap is open to the general public. Participants will be able to select seeds to take home and plant. Importantly, seed packets are free to all participates and do not require exchanging seeds. Lyons suggests that before attending the seed swap, residents should go to “seed library” found on RAMGA. org website to get information about this year’s featured species.
Information includes plant descriptions, pictures, cultural requirements, instructions on planting, and links for additional information.
