CLEVELAND — The last Saturday in January every year is National Seed Swap Day, serving as a reminder to gardeners that spring is just around the corner and it’s time to start getting prepared for the season.
Cleveland Seed Bank hosted its ninth annual swap for the gardening community in northeast Ohio, which attracted a crowd of an estimated 400 people.
Chris Kennedy, the organization’s co-founder, said local seed swaps are a great way for folks to find seeds suited to grow in local gardens.
“When you grow a seed and save it from year to year, the seed remembers your soil and your climate,” he said. “So, it will actually grow better the next year. So, the best seeds for Clevelanders are actually seeds grown in Cleveland by Clevelanders. So that’s what we’re trying to do is, is grow a regionally adapted seed supply where everybody is growing enough seeds for people to grow in our region and there they’ll be the best adapted seeds for our region.”
Ebony Joiner said she started gardening during the pandemic.
“I was invited by a friend that I know to garden,” she said. “And that’s how I got started with community garden.”
In just a few years, she’s becoming fully engrossed in Cleveland’s gardening community and now grows her own tomatoes, okra, lettuce and other produce.
“Growing my own food gives me empowerment,” Joiner said. “It empowers me from every aspect of my life.”
Saturday was Joiner’s first seed swap, and she said the experience was nothing but pleasant.
She encourages everyone to start gardening, regardless of how much knowledge or experience they have.
“Don’t let lack of knowledge stop you. There’s education on your seed packets, there’s education on YouTube, and Instagram, Facebook,” she said. “I have never encountered selfishness of any kind as a farmer.”
Kennedy said the swap wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community.
“We are grateful for all the community members who come out because we couldn’t do it without the community,” he said. “It’s the nature of a swap. So people bring their seeds, we share our seeds, and everybody goes home with a little bit of brighter dream for spring to come.”
The seed bank will be hosting a seed-starting workshop next month to help educate new gardeners on how to get started with growing their own food.
