Seed Swap & Growers School

When:
Time:
Where:

Sat, March 16th
8:30 am- 1:30 pm
Ashe Family Central
626 Ashe Central School Rd, Jefferson, NC 26840
(Former Ashe Central High School)
Looking to carpool? Click here.
All aspiring and practicing area gardeners are invited to Ashe Family Central to the High Country Seed Swap and Growers School. The event features:

Open exchange of seeds:  gardeners will be able to display their own surplus seeds and view the offerings of others on tables set up in the cafeteria space beginning at 8:30am and continuing throughout the day.  Gardeners are encouraged to bring their surplus seeds, bulbs, corms, plants, and scionwood to exchange. However, people do not need to bring seeds to participate. Seed swaps operate on the honor principle that gardeners will grow what they take this year, and bring seeds from their crops the next year. 

Workshops: 
  •  8:30-10:00 AM:  Seed-saving led by professional seed-grower Holly Whitesides of Against the Grain Farm. She and her partner grow seed for the regional seed catalog Sow True Seed, and recently completed a Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture grant-funded project to retrofit a wood chipper for purposes of seed-cleaning.   
  • 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: A grafting workshop and fruit-scion-wood exchange led by nationally known apple experts Ron & Suzanne Joyner of Big Horse Creek Farm in Lansing. They are nationally known for their conservation and propagation of old Southern Apple varieties. This workshop will be hands-on, with participants able to learn with the actual tools of the trade. Apple rootstocks will be available for purchase at the workshop, so if participants choose, they can graft several trees to then bring home and plant themselves (a flat fee of $10 will allow participants to graft up to three fruit trees). Information about collecting scionwood samples for grafting can be found at their website: http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/horticulture.htm
“Ashe Family Central’s Community Space (the old school cafeteria) is the perfect spot to meet up and swap seeds in an open exchange. It’s big enough that folks can spread-out, browse seeds, and talk. The more participants who bring seeds to share, the better the Swap will be.” 
Area Extension Agent Richard Boylan coordinates the Seed Swap, with assistance from Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and Ashe County Farmers Market volunteers. He notes that the venue has been perfect for past seed swaps, but that participation is always crucial to make the event a success, “Ashe Family Central’s Community Space (the old school cafeteria) is the perfect spot to meet up and swap seeds in an open exchange. It’s big enough that folks can spread-out, browse seeds, and talk. The more participants who bring seeds to share, the better the Swap will be.” 

 The event is free and open to all gardeners and farmers in the region.
Coffee and light fare will be available for purchase on-site at Family Central throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Sponsored by:

New River Headwaters Alternative Agriculture Program
North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s New River Headwaters Alternative Agriculture Program works to identify and promote viable crops and agricultural marketing strategies suitable for small Farms in Ashe and Watauga Counties. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture works to strengthen the High Country's local food system by supporting women and their families with resources, education, and skills related to sustainable food and agriculture. This Seed Swap is held concurrently and in partnership with the Ashe County Farmers Market Annual Expo.

About BRWIA Educational Events

We believe that the key to strengthening our local food system comes from education.  BRWIA organizes and helps to promote seasonal workshops for farmers and other community members in the High Country.

Upcoming Workshops:

Check out our upcoming events page to find out how you can get involved.

Past Workshops and Events:
For more information about the Seed Saving as a Farm Enterprise Workshop, click here.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 67,  Boone, NC 28607 
Physical Address: 969 W King Street (DO NOT MAIL HERE) 
  828.386.1537
Email: [email protected]
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Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is a non-profit tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code (Federal ID # 34-2011588). 

Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state.