GREENFIELD — The 15th annual Cabin Fever Seed Swap at Just Roots farm saw dozens of familiar faces and newcomers alike come together for an afternoon of outdoor enjoyment on Sunday.
“There’s always new people and people we see every year,” said Melinda McCreven, who has organized the event for 15 years. “Regulars — or perennials.”
McCreven said this year’s crowd “seemed very relaxed” compared to those who attended last year when the weather was poor and pandemic conditions were more limiting. She framed the seed-sharing event as not only an opportunity to share seeds, but also to share smiles, conversation and tricks of the trade.
“We’re exchanging seeds,” McCreven said, “but there’s also a lot of knowledge, wisdom and experience.”
Greenfield resident K.C. Chan, who attended last year’s seed swap, returned this year with her husband, Roger Turton, who had never been. The couple’s attendance follows a successful year of gardening “absolutely” aided by the 2021 seed swap. Chan laughed at Turton recounting their success, playfully calling him out for boasting.
“I would say that last year was our first serious year into gardening,” Chan said. “We were so surprised by our yield that we’re proud.”
Chan said the variety of seeds available at seed swaps lessens the need for gardeners to search elsewhere and buy them.
“I think because there was such a variety of seeds, you don’t have to invest a lot of money,” she said.
Not only does the variety of seed types available reduce expenses, but it helps introduce gardeners to new plants, Chan said. Turton said he had just learned how to care for locally-sourced pawpaw trees from co-sponsor and Gill’s Laughing Dog Farm owner Danny Botkin, who was giving out saplings.
“It wants to be put in a pot and loved up,” Botkin explained to a gardener. “When you eat one of (the fruits from the tree), you think, ‘How could one of these grow in New England?’ It’s just one of God’s miracles.”
Botkin regarded the seed swap as having symbolic importance, framing the event as a celebration of optimism for those “stressed, isolated and worried” as the state of the world takes its toll.
“Planting is an act of faith. … You have to act on faith,” he said. “Who knows what’s going to happen in Europe? Who knows what will happen with the climate crisis? Who knows if we’ll be a democracy after 2024?”
Botkin said, however, that he has “always been an optimist (his) whole life.”
“Seeds are intrinsically hopeful,” he said.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.