All day, with fair hours from 12 – 2 and reception at 5

3rd Floor Student Center

Seeds connect us to long lineages and hold the promise of the new growing season. Join us at the fair and stop by the tables to learn more and participate.

About the Seed Swap:

The seed swap at this year’s Winter Conference is facilitated by members of the Northeast Organic Seed Network which is simply a network of folks across New England, Southeastern Canada, New York, and the northern mid-Atlantic who share a passion and dedication to growing, adapting, preserving and sharing seeds! We hope to inspire you to join in on the exciting and important work of growing seeds which will ultimately strengthen our regional food systems with locally adapted seeds that will perform better in our environment!

The concept of sharing seeds has been a part of human existence for over 15,000 years. Seeds are the fundamental unit of our food system and unique varieties define our respective cultures and heritage – i.e. who we are -, reflecting the inherent biodiversity of humanity! Sharing seeds is a way to also share and celebrate that diversity.

A seed swap is an organized way for people to gather and share seeds with one another. The seeds can be:

• Seeds you have grown and saved in your garden, homestead or farm
• Excess seeds that were purchased and still have good viability
• Unique seeds brought home from travels which you have enough to spare a few to share
• Bulk seeds donated from seed companies

Anyone can attend a seed swap! We welcome all levels of seed savers, even if you don’t have seed to share this year. A seed swap is an event also intended to inspire more people to grow their own seeds, thus helping to adapt those varieties to our region. We hope that those who do not have seeds to share this year will be inspired to return in the future with seeds of their own.

How to join: 

• If sharing seeds, 
  • They can be shared in bulk or in pre-portioned packets – you decide! 
  • Please have them labeled clearly with crop type, (common and latin name), variety, origin, age of seed, how long you have been saving/adapting them 
  • Is there a story to share along with the seeds? Write a short blurb you can display!
  • If sharing bulk seed, please consider bringing a handful of small empty packets for folks to use to take some seeds home in
  • Check out these guides to see if your seeds are viable: Herbs and Flowers Seed Guide – Fedco Seeds & Vegetable Seed Guide – High Mowing Seeds

• If not sharing seeds:
  • Be prepared by bringing a handful of small empty packets – small coin envelopes are great for this
  • Take only as many seeds as you think you can actually plant this year
  • Consider engaging in the many Seed Saving and Growing educational opportunities presented at local conferences and online
    • Book Resources
      • Organic Seed Production (illustrated by NOFA MA Executive Director, Jocelyn Langer!) 
      • The Organic Seed Grower by organic plant breeder and hero, John Navazio
      • The Seed Garden, written by the experts at Seed Savers Exchange 

If you have questions about participating in the seed swap, please contact [email protected]

Event Page Link