One of my favorite ways to celebrate the end of a great gardening program season is with a free seed market. Using donated seeds or seeds we've collected over the season, students "shop" for what they'd like to take home. For most first time garden students, these seeds will become the beginning of their very first seed library. It's a wonderful way to put a "to be continued" at the end of our time together, and remind students that they can carry on planting and learning outside of our garden lessons.
The Power of Seed Swaps
A seed swap event is a great way to bring together young gardeners and introduce them to the joy of sharing and cultivating their own seeds and starting their own seed collection. Community gardens and school garden clubs are perfect settings for seed exchanges because they foster a sense of generosity and community that is common in gardening circles. This community event can take place throughout the year, but hosting your own seed swap is especially popular in the lead-up to the growing season. You can also consider other times of year where a seed exchange or a seed giveaway might be a fun way to incorporate gardening into other traditions: gift-giving holidays, valentine's day, earth day. I know someone who likes to hand out free seeds during Halloween too. Then there's always National Seed Swap Day, usually the last Saturday of January, where gardeners around the US host seed exchange events. It's really up to you to decide how you'd like the tradition to fit into your program!
Learning what is popular with Kids
One other great benefit is that through this process, you'll learn what favorite plants the kids are eager to get their hands on. By providing a whole range of options, you'll quickly see some favorite seeds become hot ticket items at free seed markets. This can clue you in to what you might want to grow more in your learning garden next year.
You should also be prepared for the kids to surprise you with their choices, and for them to share valuable insights into why they chose certain plants over others. For example, many students will pick seeds because they want to give them to friends and family or because they want to use them to make special meals at home. It's one of the most heart-warming experiences to hear them share these stories and explain how excited they are to show their loved ones what they hope to grow for them. There's nothing quite like a free seed market for bringing out the very best in people, especially kids.
Many students will pick seeds because they want to give them to friends and family or because they want to use them to make special meals at home. It's one of the most heart-warming experiences to hear them share these stories and explain how excited they are to show their loved ones what they hope to grow for them.
Sourcing Free Seeds for the Event
Obtaining seeds for the seed swap event doesn't have to be expensive. There are several ways to secure a variety of seeds without breaking the bank:
Save Your Own Seeds: The easiest way to get seeds is by getting into the habit of saving them from your garden. This is the best way to get bulk seeds quickly so that you have plenty to share.
Ask Fellow Gardeners: Reach out to local gardeners, master gardeners, gardening clubs, or local Facebook groups who may be willing to contribute their extra seeds to the event. This is a great way to collect new varieties and heirloom varieties.
Community Gardens: Many community gardens have extra seeds that can be shared. Collaborating with these spaces can foster a sense of unity within the community. Reach out to leaders of community gardens to see if they would allow you to harvest seeds at the end of the season.
Parents, grandparents, and teachers at the school: If you are part of a school garden, send out a call for seed donations in the weeks leading up to your event. You could also ask your school's PTA to get the word out for you. Give people a single location to drop off seeds to make things easy and convenient. Make sure that location is somewhere cool and protected from the weather so that the seeds stay viable.
Seed Companies: Many seed companies offer free or discounted seeds for educational purposes. Contact these companies to inquire about potential contributions. Most of the time, a simple email or phone call is all you need to receive seeds.
Setting up your event: How to organize your seed tables
Effectively organizing the seeds on tables is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants. Here's a step-by-step guide to arranging the seeds at your seed swap event:
Categorize by Type: Group seeds into categories. This makes it easier for participants to locate the seeds they're interested in. My categories are: brassicas, vines, leaves, flowers, root veggies, tomatoes and peppers, and miscellaneous. You could also separate out heirloom seeds, if you wish. (Using categories has the added benefit of reinforcing plant groups to the students too). Use bowls or baskets to hold the seeds so the packets don't quickly scatter everywhere (spoiler alert: the seed packets will still get scattered quite a bit, regardless!)
Label Clearly: Use small signs or labels for each seed category. Pictures can also be really helpful.
Provide Containers: Offer small envelopes or bags for participants to gather their chosen seeds, or in our case, teach them how to make their own seed packets using recycled paper. Provide markers too so that kids can label their seed packets. I would also encourage you to provide a container with a sealing lid so that packets stay organized.
Educational Materials: I have several seed catalogs at the tables too so that students can look up more information about the seeds or see more pictures of what they will look like.
Display the rules of the market: Every seed swap has a simple set of rules to follow so that everyone knows how to participate. For kids, it's really helpful to write these out somewhere so that they can reference them on their own at any time. Here are a few guidelines you might like to write out as an example:
Free Seed Market Guidelines:
- Choose up to 5 different types of seeds to take home
- Don't mix multiple types of seeds into one packet
- Remember to label your packets
- Return seeds to their original bins when finished
- Take only what you need, leave the rest for others
Choosing the Right Seeds
The success of a seed swap event hinges on the diversity and quality of seeds available for exchange. Certain types of seeds are better suited for such events than others. While the choice ultimately depends on the local climate and gardening preferences, some seed varieties tend to be popular among kids and novice gardeners. Be sure to go through the seeds before hand and weed out anything that wouldn't do well in your growing climate. Here are a few other types that you might seek out:
Easy-to-Grow Vegetable Seeds: Opt for things like tomatoes, squash, melons, pumpkins, peas, and beans, which are relatively easy for beginners to cultivate in their own vegetable garden. Include varieties that have cultural significance to your students.
Colorful Flowers: Flowers like sunflowers, marigolds, calendula, and zinnias can add vibrancy to gardens and captivate young gardeners' interest while also being great for beginners.
Herbs: Herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, and chives are a great option for kids to start with and can be grown indoors or outdoors.
Microgreens and container friendly plants: For students that don't have access to a yard or outdoor growing space, including microgreens and container friendly plants makes sure they still have great options for growing at home.
Native Plants: Including native plant seeds helps support local ecosystems and teaches children about the importance of preserving biodiversity. At our exchanges, I always have a jar of native wildflower seeds that children can scoop from as a "thank you gift" for their participation.
What else to have for the event
A great activity to do before you start the market is teaching the kids how to make their own seed packets using colorful or recycled paper (seed catalogs work great!). It doesn't take very long initially, and it imparts one more useful skill to them before they get started. You can also provide markers that the kids can use to decorate their packets of seeds.
If you'd like to know how we make our seed packets, check it out in the 10-minute seeds projects:
If you are able, I would also recommend providing a simple lidded bin that they can put their seeds in and take with them. This allows them to keep those seeds stored and organized until they're ready to use them. I also provided paint pens so the kids could label and decorate their seed bins. The ones in the picture were around $3 for 5 and they were the perfect size for our seed packets, but you could use any bins you'd like or recycled items like small lidded boxes. You may also decide as the seed swap host to provide light refreshments like fresh produce or tea to share. Having music in the background can also help to create a fun atmosphere for the kids just like they're in a traditional farmer's market. Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, I love to incorporate some kind of fun seed giveaways as a bonus thank you to the students for their time in the garden. I like this giveaway to center local, native wildflowers, but you could do a variety of fun ideas like an herb mix, salad greens, or a tea garden blend. If you have other local experts that can offer growing advice or planting ideas to the students, this is a great, casual event for them to participate in too.
Hosting a seed exchange event for kids in a school or garden club setting can be an enriching experience for all involved. It cultivates a sense of community, fosters a love for gardening for the novice and avid gardener alike, and imparts valuable lessons about biodiversity and sustainability. Overall, it's such a fun activity and encourages the kids to make new friends, swap seeds, and try growing new plants and new varieties once class has concluded for the season. I hope that you'll give it a try in your own community!
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