Diario del proyecto MNSEED Native Plant Community Science Project

After a season of identifying and collecting native seeds it is now time to start trading them.

This form (https://forms.gle/GtEEa2uJstFgQJ3ZA) will let MN SEED Cyber Seed Swappers know what species you have to share with other participants. MN SEED will send out a list of what is available from whom on October 18th to those that fill out the form. So please let us know what you have to share by October 17th. Then swappers will have from October 18th through November 12th to exchange seeds.

Please fill out the form for EACH of your seeds you want to make available. If you have a bunch there is an option to upload a spreadsheet at the bottom. Swap organizers will arrange the form submissions onto a shared list, and participants can connect individually with other swappers to make arrangements for a contactless exchange.

There is no minimum required amount of seeds or varieties needed to participate, just select the "I have no seeds to share but would like to receive seeds" option under the what you are interested in question.

Seeds do not need to be cleaned to participate, just indicate its status on the form. For quantity, a guess here is most important if you have very limited amounts so that swappers are not disappointed.

Don't forget to donate some of your unique or larger quantity seeds to your local seed library! Ask how if needed.

On November 12th we will be sending up a follow-up survey that you will need to respond to by the 16th to get the promo code to attend the "Growing Natives from Seed" webinar for Free (happening on November 18th at 6:30 pm - a recording will also be available if that day/time doesn't work for you).

If you have further questions, please contact mnseed@northerngardener.org
Happy Trading!

We just wanted to take a moment to thank our community partners and highlight Gibbs Farm today. August, September and October were a whirlwind of in-person outdoor events where the MnSEED community and neighbors were able to gather, collect seed from some wonderful locations and practice the basics of seed processing. Here are some photos from our adventures at Gibbs Farm on 9/11/2021 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/9kPQfvQjapniSUy49) and then again on 9/25/2021 for Apple Fest(https://photos.app.goo.gl/eMMfR9E9aZ7qVs8X7). Our deepest gratitude to the staff and volunteers at Gibbs Farm(https://www.rchs.com/gibbs-farm/) for stewarding such a lovely and significant piece of Ramsey County and Minnesota history.

Sunday Oct 17th was perfect day to gather and collect seed at 21 Roots Farm (https://www.21rootsfarm.org). A place where folks with learning challenges can connect with land and agriculture. Thanks to Amy and Brittany for opening the farm to the MnSEED community, Saint Paul Garden Club members, and 21 Roots Farmers. Michelle from Forks in the Dirt (https://forksinthedirt.com) graciously joined us as well. Michelle connected all of us last year and in the seeds that were collected on that fun cold October Sunday germinated the idea that collecting and sharing native seeds in our communities should be a focus for 2021. For a look at the farm perfect day take a look at the photos, many shared by Michelle here (https://photos.app.goo.gl/wjhwJPhPD9fACsUCA)

On Thursday Oct 14th Urban Roots (https://urbanrootsmn.org ) an amazing community partner in the Capitol Region Watershed District, hosted a seed cleaning and saving workshop at their location in the heart of the Swede Hollow neighborhood for MnSEED participants. David Woods, Urban Roots Conservation Director and Urban Roots interns threshed and sifted/winnowed seed from their stewarded prairie site and shared their best practices and tools. Thanks to MnSEEDer and Minneapolis garden connector, Vanessa VanAlstine we also got the chance to work with her custom made seed aspirator. To check out photos and video from this wonderful early evening event take a look here (https://photos.app.goo.gl/85Y59MkiHNUZfvSq9) For those MnSEEDers participating in the seed swap David will be our instructor for seed propagation on November 18th. We can't wait! Thank you so much Urban Roots and Capitol Region Watershed District for funding these wonderful opportunities to connect native seed and people!