Welcome to our TENTH annual seed swap!
The rumors are true... we have a date, and I've got us on the calendar at Chef Lin. Both "old hands" and new gardeners are welcome.
Please POST ON THIS THREAD to let me know you're planning to attend.
The thread "2017 "Think Spring!!" Seed Swap CHAT" in
Mid Atlantic Gardening forum is our separate thread for seed/plant discussion and for information about the online seed swap tool. Please wait for the start date (TBA) before requesting/holding seeds from/for somebody. Even if you choose not to list your seeds on the tool, please use it to make requests from others who do.
This invite/info thread will be posted on the MAG forum at DG also, so all our Mid-Atlantic friends can participate. This is NOT the place to debate about your garden site preferences. Thanks!
I'll post a link to the swap tool once that's set up for this year's swap.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017
TIME: noon to 4:30 pm
WHAT: lunch followed by seed swap party
WHERE: Frederick, MD, Chef Lin Buffet (scroll down to next post for directions)
WHO: DG and ATP members and their guests
(scroll down thread for list of party-goers)
COST: $15 (will double check this) in cash, please, per person
(inclusive: lunch buffet, hot tea or soft drink, tip, tax)
If you are definitely not having a soft drink, subtract $2
If you are 65 or over, subtract $1
Kids are $1.25 per year of age (the 25 cents goes toward tax & gratuity)
BRING: Extra seeds, either commercial or self-harvested. If you're going to split seeds into smaller packs, try to do that ahead of time, because it gets crazy! We'll have a "free to good home" pile also. Most seeds are viable 5 years or so, if stored dry & cool, but please don't offer seeds (even for the "free" pile) that are unlikely to sprout.
Rule of thumb: bring seeds that you would be happy to receive.
Most people bring a small item for the "gift table," which is sort of an expanded door prize thing that we like to do.
Most of all, bring your enthusiasm -- we're going to have a great time!
If you've never been to a Mid-Atlantic event, don't worry... we are a fun and casual group. Everybody brings their extra seeds to swap & share (it's very useful to make up little labeled packets ahead of time), everybody visits and talks, and everybody goes home with a nice selection of seeds to try! I wrote an article that may give you an idea about how this event goes:
Get to Frederick early so you can drop by Dutch Plant Farm, my favorite local nursery for winter visits. Joyanna's favorite bird, Pogo the Parrot, lives there. I wrote an article with photos that should give you an idea of what they are likely to have. I will try to arrange an "NGA Discount" for our group on that day, so please be sure to ask for it at the register. They'll be open 10 to 5.
http://thedutchplantfarm.com/h...
We'll meet at noon or a little before at Chef Lin, a local Chinese buffet that's one of my favorite Frederick restaurants. First, we'll gather in the back room (12 to 12:30) to get name tags and put our "stuff" down. I'll have a tray with bags for putting in seeds or little goodies for everybody (your name will be on the bag, but please leave it where it is until you leave). There will be a "gift table" set up as well as some tables/chairs where you can leave your seeds for the swapping part of the afternoon.
Look for Sally -- the tall blond with the dazzling smile -- and give her your lunch money. $18 cash per person includes the buffet, tax & tip, and your choice of water, hot tea, or soft drink. You may subtract $2 if you do not order a soft drink, and subtract $1 if you're 65+. Let's make it easy on our waitstaff and on Sally by not getting extras like adult beverages or snow crab.
I know some folks might be on tight budgets, and we've all been there. If the cost of the meal might keep you from coming, please Dmail me, and we'll get you covered. I don't want anybody to miss out.
Space permitting, we'll eat at the tables in the rear of the restaurant. This will let us all eat together but be a little less cramped than in the past. As always, people are encouraged to change seats after they make another trip to the buffet, so they get a chance to talk to different people during the meal.
Around 2 pm, we'll change gears with an activity (TBA) before starting in on door prizes and seed swapping. If you have something you'd like to donate to the "gift table," please Dmail me or post that you're bringing an item (I don't need to know what; keeping a count just lets me ensure everybody gets a little something). Purchased items for the table are generally under $5. If you got a pair of too-small garden gloves for Christmas, or you have a pretty grapevine wreath you're just done with, or you have an extra rooting vase -- those are all wonderful gift table items!
We can get away with a few plants on the gift table, but "serious" plant trading will have to take place in the parking lot, maybe around 4. Small bagged plants and cuttings are OK to bring inside the restaurant.
We'll concentrate on seed swapping from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Of course, seeds can be swapped outside of that time, and of course anybody who doesn't want to swap seeds can just keep chatting and visiting. I bet some of us will make a quick stop at Dutch Plant Farm after the swap, too!
Instead of our usual discussion and have/want thread for swapping, we will use the "Seed Swaps" tool here at NGA. It's not necessary to make any arrangements ahead of time, but it can be useful to see what people have and what they might be wishing for. If you have seeds sorted out ahead of time for people, you can "deliver" them into their goodie bags (like valentine mail boxes in grade school).
You won't miss out on seafood by skipping the snow crab; the Saturday buffet usually includes sushi, steamed shrimp & mussels, garlicky little steamed clams, flounder, clams/oysters on the half shell, fried fish/shrimp/scallops, semi-fried "pepper shrimp," sometimes steamed crabs, salmon, krab salad, and more. The hibachi grill lets you create your own combination of meats and vegetables, cooked for you on the spot.
The buffet also has everything from soups and stir-fries to fried chicken and mozzarella sticks... there's salad, fruit, and an expanded array of desserts. Ice cream lovers are in luck -- they now have a toppings bar as well as 3 ice cream stations: Hershey's ice cream cups & bars, hand-scooped ice cream, and choc/vanilla soft serve. There's a chocolate fountain (great selection of fruit & other dipping items) and even a cotton candy machine! Don't miss the hot little fried sugared doughnuts on the appetizer bar. The selection is remarkable, and even if you don't like Chinese food you'll find plenty of possibilities.
If you can't come but still want to swap seeds, please post here or on the seed swapping thread to ask somebody to volunteer to be your "seed fairy." You can use the ATP seed swap tool to participate, send your seeds and return postage to your person, and they'll send your seeds to you after the swap.
I had a blast at our previous seed swaps, and I'm so excited about this year's gathering!
THINK SPRING!
:-)
~ Critter (Jill)
GOOD NEWS! Dutch Plant Farm has just started their annual house plant sale. There should be some goodies left at swap time... Also, I have a coupon for $5 off! I'll print out extras, or tree-mail me with your email address and I'll forward one to you.
