Master gardeners encourage seed swap in Canonsburg
Two organizations committed to supporting and encouraging gardening are joining to host a special event in Canonsburg.
The Allegheny Land Trust and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Washington County will be at Canonsburg’s Frank Sarris Library for National Seed Swap Day. The event was established in 2006 in Washington, D.C., by Kathy Jentz, the editor of “Washington Gardener Magazine.” The event was a success, inspiring other states to join the effort, but the tradition of swapping seeds is much older.
Using seeds for barter goes back thousands of years. Global traders took seeds with them in their travels, and established connections in other countries by exchanging seeds with local growers. Some of the most popular vegetables, fruits, and grains in the United States were brought to the country by Dutch and other European colonizers.
Swapping seeds helped popularize gardening and is vital to the planet’s biodiversity. Since the 2000s, both urban farming and home gardening have grown in popularity, driven by a desire to grow sustainable crops. It is estimated that more than half of those living in suburbs and urban areas maintain a garden of some sort, and together spend billions on their efforts.
National Seed Swap Day this year is January 25; the day is always the last Saturday in January, to mark the very start of the return of warmer weather. When they plan events like this, organizers may use flyer printing to create handouts announcing it in the local area.
The Allegheny Land Trust and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Washington County will be at Canonsburg’s Frank Sarris Library for National Seed Swap Day. The event was established in 2006 in Washington, D.C., by Kathy Jentz, the editor of “Washington Gardener Magazine.” The event was a success, inspiring other states to join the effort, but the tradition of swapping seeds is much older.
Using seeds for barter goes back thousands of years. Global traders took seeds with them in their travels, and established connections in other countries by exchanging seeds with local growers. Some of the most popular vegetables, fruits, and grains in the United States were brought to the country by Dutch and other European colonizers.
Swapping seeds helped popularize gardening and is vital to the planet’s biodiversity. Since the 2000s, both urban farming and home gardening have grown in popularity, driven by a desire to grow sustainable crops. It is estimated that more than half of those living in suburbs and urban areas maintain a garden of some sort, and together spend billions on their efforts.
National Seed Swap Day this year is January 25; the day is always the last Saturday in January, to mark the very start of the return of warmer weather. When they plan events like this, organizers may use flyer printing to create handouts announcing it in the local area.