Food Share Seed Exchange

            Marion-Polk Food Share’s Community Gardens Program will host the 3rd Annual Seed Exchange at MPFS headquarters, 1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE. The event, which guarantees that “everyone takes home seeds,” takes place 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 2.
            “Local gardeners and seed savers are encouraged to bring seeds to share,” said Community Gardens Program Director Ian Dixon-McDonald. “Any seed saved from backyard gardens or seed packets dated 2010, 2011 or 2012 are welcome. Those stored in a freezer can bear any date since they’re good for decades.”
            There will be plenty of seeds to go around on a first-come, first-served basis. Bean seeds are particularly abundant this year, but there will be seeds of many different fruit and vegetable varieties.
            “Everyone will take home some seeds, even if they don’t have any to contribute to the event,” Dixon-McDonald assures.
            Information about the MPFS Seed Bank project also will be shared. Currently, five active members are growing locally acclimated plants for seed purposes. The hope is to increase the number of local growers committed to the project.
            Additionally, information about the community gardens program including plot availability, garden resources and the upcoming garden workshop series will be available.
            For more information, contact Dixon-McDonald at 503-581-3855, ext. 329, or imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org.