MARCH 11, 2010 ISSUE
High Country Seed Swap and Growers School in Jefferson Saturday
This Saturday, March 13, all aspiring and practicing area gardeners and family farmers are invited to Family Central, the former Ashe Central High School in Jefferson, to the High Country Seed Swap and Growers School. The event features a day of freely exchanging seeds, plus several farm and garden workshops taught by area experts. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., growers will be able to display their own surplus seeds and view the offerings of others on tables set up in the cafeteria space. The seed swap will continue through 1:00 p.m.
Gardeners are encouraged to bring their surplus seeds, bulbs, corms, plants and scionwood to exchange. However, people do not need to bring seeds or plants 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. North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s New River Headwaters Alternative Agriculture Program sponsors the event, in conjunction with the Ashe County Farmers Market, and thanks to the volunteer efforts of participating growers, teachers and assistants.
Ron and Suzanne Joyner of Big Horse Creek Farm in Lansing will teach the apple-grafting workshop. They are nationally known for their conservation and propagation of old Southern Apple varieties. The grafting workshop taught by the Joyners 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. Other workshops in the day’s schedule include a vermicomposting session by Tracy Myhalyk of Room to Sqworm, a plant-propagation class by Hollis Wild of Appalachian Trees and a post-harvest handling and produce safety mini-workshop by Richard Boylan of N.C. Cooperative Extension. Also, members of the Ashe County Farmers Market will be holding their Market Expo in conjunction with the High Country Seed Swap and Growers School.
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. This Seed Swap is part of NCA&T State University’s Small Farms Week statewide programming. The event is free and open to all gardeners and farmers in the region. Directions to Family Central can be found by searching for “Family Central Jefferson NC” in Google Maps or similar search engines.
For more information, contact Richard Boylan, area extension agent, at richard_boylan@ncsu.edu.
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