Gatlinburg Farmers Market Hosts Community Seed Swap

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market will host a Seed Swap Day on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 with a community seed swap and a talk on “How To’s and Tips for Seed Saving.” There will also be demonstrations of traditional crafts, free native wildflower seeds given away by Keep Sevier Beautiful, and music performed by Boogertown Gap – Old Time String Music and Sevier County Harp Singers – practicing the tradition of Appalachian Shape Note Singing.

Anyone can participate in the seed swap simply by doing the following:

• Save seeds that you would like to share from your favorite plants.
• Package them in a small bag, such as a plastic snack bag or small envelope.
• Label the envelope specifically with what the seeds will produce, such as; type of plant, variety, color, growing time, etc. and your name.
• On Sept. 12 during market hours bring your seed packs to the Seed Swap table and pick up some seeds to take home with you.

“The nights are getting cooler and the fall season is right around the corner. It is the time of year to think about gathering and saving seeds for next year’s fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Dead stems of flowers, okra that are too big, and shriveled bean pods all hold the life of next year’s crop and garden. What better way of looking forward to next year than to share our seeds and plants with each other,” said Market Manager Stacey Adam.

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market celebrates looking forward to next year by sharing seeds and plants in this free community seed swap. To further kick off fall at the farmers market, there will be demonstrations of soap making by Jan Lewis of Kulturology Soap Co., weaving by Frances Fox, rug making by Lee Jewell, and yarn spinning by Cam Sabo. Come celebrate the changing of the season.

The market is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community at the Covered Bridge, 849 Glades Road in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Special events are held the second Saturday each month through October and Kids Day is held every fourth Saturday. EBT is accepted.