What is a Seed Swap or Scion Exchange?

For all our visitors, this article explains the basics of a seed swap and scion exchange.

What will I find at the exchange?

Seeds and Scions: (a scion is a small piece of a branch from a fruit tree)

A large multi-purpose room, which is filled with rows of cafeteria-style tables. Most the tables will have gallon-size bags of dormant cuttings from fruit and nut trees – such as apple, pear, berries, etc.

You will also find some cuttings from evergreen fruiting plants, whole plants, gardening catalogs, seeds, roots, inexpensive information sheets, and sometimes grafting supplies.

What you do at the exchange is select 1-2 pieces of each type of thing you want to propagate, clearly label each item, get answers to your questions about how to make the stuff grow once you get it home, and enjoy the company of others who are interested in growing unusual edibles.

If possible, you bring something from your own garden: open pollinated seeds of your favorite vegetable, cuttings from an heirloom fruit tree, specialties from your family's native country, etc. See the "What to Bring" page for more details.

What if I know nothing about grafting?

Grafting is the process by which a piece of one kind of plant is attached to a different kind of plant (such as a Fuji apple twig on a seedling apple rootstock). The exchange includes a grafting demonstration that will show you how to graft and experts who can tell you what plant combinations will be successful.

Still don't think grafting is for you? Many types of cuttings -- such as fig, kiwi, and grapes – can be easily rooted in ordinary garden dirt.

What will this cost me?

A $5 per person, or $8 per couple (or bring a friend) entry fee will be charged at the door (which goes to help defray the costs of advertising, using the room, and misc. supplies), though no one will be refused for lack of funds. The charge for pamphlets, grafting supplies, and such, depends on our costs for the materials. With occasional exceptions, the scions, tubers, etc., are free.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes, please do!. The exchange is open to the public beginning at noon and will be advertised in various local newspapers.

What about lunch?

This year bring a pot luck dish and we'll munch and mingle at noon!

What to Bring

(1) Scions, cuttings, divisions, tubers, bare-root plants, and open pollinated seeds of unusual fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, and herbs. (See below for more about preparing material for the exchange.)
(2) Unusual fruit or vegetable-related edibles to share, such as fresh or dried fruit, jams, cookies, pickles, etc.
Pot luck! Plates and cutlery will be provided.
(3) Seed, gardening books and catalogs, tools, and other gardening-related items you don't need anymore but someone else would enjoy.
(4) Bring clean, disease and pest-free, leafless cuttings. Clean your pruning shears with 90% rubbing alcohol between different trees you are cutting. We don’t want to spread any pests or disease
(5) Empty plastic bags, masking tape or labels, and a waterproof pen (or pencil) -- to bag and label the things you want to take home from the exchange.
(6) Please don’t bring patented varieties. We respect the work of fruit breeders and will not allow cuttings of any fruit varieties that are protected by a current Plant Patent,
(7) Please only bring scions or cuttings from trees you know have fruited “true to type”. It is important to bring only scions that you are certain of the variety name, such as you have received them labeled from a reliable nursery or grower. Do not bring material from trees that have not yet born fruit, as they may have been mislabeled. It is frustrating to collect scionwood, graft, and care for a tree for years, just to find the original scion was a mislabeled donation to the exchange. In addition to standard, well-known old and new varieties, we are especially interested in varieties from your backyard/neighborhood that are unique seedlings or otherwise worth saving. However, by all means, if you have an unusually good fruit without a variety name ,bring it and label it--(see label section.) We are excited to share locally adapted cultivars with unusual merits or tastes. What rare varieties could you share?
(8) Label what you bring. A good label really helps others to choose what will work for them. We will have pre-printed, form labels (that you can fill in) at the Exchange, or you can use the included label template and print them yourself. At the very least, please write a basic label for each bag of scions you bring – one that says(for example) something like “red plum, very sweet, early, grown Pocatello." Be prepared to give a brief intro and description of your varieties. If you need labels...

Just Contact me at..

applemanjc@gmail.com

and I will email you a label form you can print out in Microsoft Word 

(9) Store your scions with just a sprinkle of water, in sealed plastic bags in the fridge (35-37°F), but don’t freeze them.
(10) At the Exchange, there will be information sheets available describing many of the varieties of fruit scions and seeds you will find there, but it will be much easier to decide on which varieties you want before you get there. If you do some homework, and bring a shopping list, you may find the exchange more enjoyable. As a suggestion, Find out what fruit already thrives in your neighborhood. Look for wild berries. Talk to your neighbors. Trade favorite fruit and vegetable stories. Support each other, and share backyard garden and fruit tree surpluses, learning to eat with the seasons. Perhaps you can grow a delicious piece of history by collecting and growing a scion of a productive, old local tree. Be a good neighbor and only collect fruit and scions with permission.