The 2026-2027 Seed Exchange is now open! Our 33rd 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 766 seed donations generously contributed by 61 gardeners, from beginners to professionals and included approximately 93 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, and heirloom vegetables. If you have donated to the Seed Exchange in the past five years, we will send to you, via e-mail or mail, a list of the seed you have donated in the past – by September 15, 2026. 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 Review tab, then go down to Markup, you can see your changes. 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, 2026 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, click here for the front page and back page. 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) are due October 31, 2026. If not e-mailing the forms, mail Seed donation forms to: Mary Huis We must receive the Seed Donation Forms 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 2026-2027 catalog will be available at the end of December. The 2025-2026 catalog is available for viewing here. An eBlast and a posting on HPS’s Facebook page will alert all members when the online catalog is accessible. 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. Only request a catalog if ordering from the catalog, as we are trying to limit the printing to a minimum. If you did not order last year, then you will not receive a mailed catalog this year. Donors will be able to send photos of their plants they donate seeds of to [email protected]. If sending photos, please fill out our photo release form and send that to the e-mail address too. We will use your photos for the online catalog only. Requests for photos will accompany the historical donation form. If you already filled out a photo release form last year, then we do not need another signed photo release form. 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 this valuable exchange of seeds. Due to the rising costs of postage, the Seed Exchange will be offering a few pick-up locations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and western New Jersey. More information on pick-up locations and dates will be available in December. 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. 2026/27 Seed Exchange Calendar More dates will be added as the schedule is finalized. Check back often for updates. August 1. Seed Exchange officially opens. September 15. Seed Donor Historical Forms will be mailed or e-mailed by this date: The photo request will accompany this form. Contact Susan at the below address or phone number if you do not receive your Donor Form by September 30th. October 31. Seed Donation 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 can minimize costs and do not waste paper. January 8, 2027. Mail donations: Seed may be submitted by mail to: Carole Maher Late January to mid-February. Volunteer workshops at Tyler Arboretum in Media. We sort, clean, and package the seeds, as well as fill the orders. Sign-ups begin in early January. Working with the Seed Exchange is a fun way to meet fellow plant lovers in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. To learn more about the 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, If you have questions or want to know how you can participate, please contact Susan Doblmaier, [email protected] or 215-542-7865.
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