GREENFIELD — Spring is approaching, and as gardeners begin thinking about what to grow this year, they can find inspiration and supplies at the 19th annual Cabin Fever Seed Swap.
The event will be held on Sunday, March 8, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Franklin Community Co-op’s Community Room at 170 Main St. Expert and beginner gardeners alike are invited to bring leftover seeds, bulbs and other supplies to swap. Additionally, free seeds will be given away, and attendees will be asked to share their experience, expertise and enthusiasm about gardening.
Organizer Melinda McCreven said the event is fairly casual. People can show up at any time between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and mill around the room chatting and swapping seeds, although some folks like to set up tables to showcase the seeds they have available.
She said there are different types of seeds available each year, depending on what gardeners grow and save from the year before, or what they have extras of.
“It’s a real toss-up every year,” McCreven said. “There’s always some perennial favorites every year, like different types of squash.”
She added that beginning gardeners who do not have any seeds to swap are also invited, as many free seeds are given away.
Although the first day of spring is not until March 20, McCreven said, after a long, cold and snowy winter, she’s excited to get outside in her garden again, as are many other gardeners she knows.
“I think everybody’s going to be really excited, after the winter we’ve had,” she said. “This is definitely one of those cabin fever years where we want to get out there.”
She said the seed swap is always well-attended, and the community support has made it easy to keep the event alive and growing for the past 19 years.
“People just keep showing up and they ask about it every year,” McCreven said. “The community really makes it happen.”