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What happens at a swap...

Plant swaps are so much fun! Every chance you get to attend one, you should! If you've never been to one, I hope this page gives you an idea of what happens once you get there. I've included some tips that may help lessen any "first-swap-jitters" you may have.

When you first get there, I would suggest parking somewhere long enough for

you to find a host so they can show you where to unload your things. You'll probably be greeted before you even get out of your car!

A few tables are usually provided at most spots swaps are held, but it's

ALWAYS a good idea to bring your own along with some chairs in case those few are already taken (they usually are already taken up by the food and door prizes)

The common practice is to set the plants you are trading on top of your table in

full view. Plants you are keeping back for someone or that you are taking home are put under the table. It's not a bad idea to make a "Reserved" sign or something like that to hang above those in case someone who doesn't know the SOP peeks under there! Another good idea is to have a card with pen or chalkboard on your table ~ that way people can leave notes while you're perusing someone else's plants and you won't miss any trades. You could also put a note on it telling what you are looking for.

Now comes the fun part ~ looking at everyone else's plants and TRADING! Don't

be shy! If you are a bit hesitant at first, you can hang around your table and wait for a few people to come by and visit. Just tell them that this is your first swap and I'm sure they will take you under their wing right away.

That's all there is to it! Well... that, eating, meeting new gardening friends, talking

plants and fun, fun, FUN!

 

What to bring to swap with:

Plants: Most anything you think someone would want ~ it's easier to water the pots the night before the swap so they're moist but not wet when you haul them and trade them (lots lighter, too!)

Seeds: Again, most anything you think someone would want ~ already packaged in easy-to-hand-out, labeled envelopes would be great!

Cuttings: Make sure they are fresh and have at least two nodes on them ~ keep them wrapped in moist (not wet) paper towels in a ziploc bag in a cool place 'til you trade them ~ you may want to make a note of which end is the stem end (end closest to the mother plant) while taking them

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, etc.: Try to have them dried and cleaned of most garden soil ~ if you can't, no biggie! Just put them in paper bags so they're easier to handle

Anything garden related: Most swaps let you bring whatever else you have to trade as long as it's garden related ~ sculpture, honeycomb rock, books, etc. ~ just ask to make sure it's okay for the particular swap you're attending

 

A few things that are handy to bring besides plants, seeds and food are:

printed descriptions & care instructions for your plants/seeds to hand out with them so you don't have to explain each one to each recipient. Frees up lots more time for swapping!).

 

ziploc bags and paper towels to moisten and keep cuttings fresh & happy 'til you can get them home.

 

 

pen and paper to write down notes like how to grow the plants you just got and that neat little old lady's e-mail address (the one who will have seeds next fall for that Strelitzia you've been searching for).

 

chairs and tables if you have any handy (they're ALWAYS appreciated by the host!).

 

boxes ~ lots and lots of boxes! You'll need them to carry your things there and to haul home your treasures!

 

 

Other things that are okay to bring:

gardening buddies ~ If ya' got 'em, bring 'em! And tell them to bring stuff to swap, too, so they can join in the fun. The more swap partners, the better!

spouses ~ Even if he or she isn't really into gardening, they're usually always welcome, too ~ they just might strike up a conversation with another non-gardening spouse and have fun after all! Or, better yet, they might just catch the gardening bug themselves ~ Nanny Joy brought her hubby, Papa, to a swap at my place last year and he's now growing herbs!

 

Some things not to bring:

beer and booze ~ Sorry.. park rules

 

 

 What's a fair trade? What to do if you'd rather not trade for a particular plant?