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The 2024-2025 Seed Exchange is now open! Our 31st year! Since the fall and winter of 1993-94, the Seed Exchange has been one of the activities that makes HPS/MAG stand out from all of the other plant societies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each year, as the fruiting season for a plant comes to an end, dedicated Society members collect the seeds and forward them, along with a description of the plant, to the Seed Exchange Team. The information is then used to create the Seed Exchange Catalog. Last year’s annual edition (see link below) of the Catalog included 881 seed donations generously contributed by 62 gardeners, from beginners to professionals and included approximately 100 new seed varieties never before offered in our catalog. Seed Donations The Seed Exchange relies on members (like you) to collect seeds from favorite or unusual plants to provide to other members. The Seed Exchange takes donations of the following seeds: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, heirloom vegetables. If you have donated to the Seed Exchange in the past five years, we will e-mail or mail a list of the seed you have donated in the past to you by September 15, 2024. Rather than complete new forms, you can simply check off any seeds that you wish to submit again this year – the historical donation form is Word editable. Word editable means that if you press the View tab, then go down to Markup, you can see your changes and the document will save that way. If you do make changes to the description on the list of historical donations, please make them in a different color or highlight the changes so we do not miss your corrections. If you do not receive a history of your past donations by September 30, 2024 please contact [email protected]. For any new varieties being offered by past donors or any donations from those who have not donated seeds in the past, there are 2 ways to inform us that you are donating seeds: 1. E-mail a spreadsheet or Word document with your seed list and descriptions to [email protected] or mail them to the address below, OR 2. To print the Seed Donation Form, front section and back section of the seed donation You may print and make copies of the Seed Donation form and mail it to us at the address below or scan it in and send the scans via e-mail. The SEED DONATION FORMS (but not the seeds) is due October 31, 2024. Mail Seed donation forms to: Mary Huis We must receive the Donor Form as early as possible to be able to publish the Seed Catalog and deliver it to you by the end of December. If you have any problems, questions or concerns please contact Susan Doblmaier at [email protected] or 215-542-7865. Please don’t worry about the possibility of crop failure. If that occurs, or if you discover some unexpected seeds, just let Susan know. The Seed Exchange committee has until the first week of December to make changes. Seed Exchange Catalog The 2024-2025 catalog will be available at the end of December. The 2023-2024 catalog is available for viewing here. An eBlast and a posting on HPS’s Facebook page will alert all members to accessing the online catalog. Some members receive their catalog mailed to them. The mailed catalogs will be posted a few days prior to the online availability. If you would like a mailed Seed Exchange catalog, contact Susan Doblmaier. In late December through the first half of January, Society members can order seeds for a small fee. Later in January and February, dozens of volunteers meet at Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA to sort and divide seed into packets to satisfy the orders. Thousands of work hours and volumes of gardening knowledge go into providing the valuable exchange of seeds. Any member or non-member can submit seeds or volunteer to clean and sort seeds. To order seeds, one must be a member of HPS-MAG. Click here for the membership form. To learn more about the Seed Exchange, read "A Seed of an Idea and How it Grew" and "The Power of Seed" from past HPS Newsletters. Also visit the Avant Gardens Blog, Garden Foreplay, for their 2014 posting titled "Collecting Seed for Seed Exchanges". Working with the Seed Exchange is a fun way to meet fellow plant lovers in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. If you have questions or want to know how you can participate, please contact Susan Doblmaier, [email protected] or 215-542-7865. 2024/25 Seed Exchange Calendar – more dates will be added as the schedule is finalized. Check back for updated dates. August 1. Seed Exchange officially opens. August 10. How to Save Seeds from what you Grow Program at Marple Library, Broomall, 10AM-11:30AM. Susan will be speaking about seed saving with a short workshop. All supplies will be provided. RSVP at the Marple Library link at https://delcolibraries.libcal.com/event/12447589. Members and non-members are welcome. September 7. Seed Saving Program at Elkins Park Library, 10:30AM-12PM. Susan will be speaking about seed saving with a workshop. All supplies will be provided. Please RSVP at the Elkins Park Library link at https://cheltenhamlibraries.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=11853&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2024/09/01. Members and non-members welcome September 15. Seed Donor Historical Forms will be mailed or e-mailed by this date: Contact Susan at the above address or phone number if you do not receive your Donor Form by September 30th. October 31. Seed Donor Forms are due. November into early December. The Seed Exchange database is updated with the Seed Donor Forms. Updates to the new catalog are made at this time. Early to Mid-December. The database and catalog updates are sent to the IT Design team to begin catalog layout design. Once finished, the catalog is sent to the printer. Late December. The catalog is e-mailed to all members and mailed to those who have requested a copy. The Seed Exchange committee would like to mail as few catalogs as possible so that we do not waste paper. January 10, 2025. Mail donations: Seed may be submitted by mail by January 10, 2025 to: Carole Maher |