We’ll be having our weekly swap again, Saturday at 10am sharp on the Plum Street Mall.
Last week I made a delicious thai red curry with the butternut squash and lemongrass that I swapped for my bee balm and hosta.
What have you got in your garden this week?
Maybe some seeds?
eggplant paperweight
We’ll be holding a plant swap every Saturday at 10 am sharp on the Plum Street Mall until the weather or the harvest succumbs to fall.
In Chinese five element tradition, so I’ve heard, there are actually five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Fall. Autumn is the season of the harvest and gathering, and Fall is the season of falling (as in leaf fall) and letting go. I have remembered this for years because it really struck a chord with me.
Do come at 10 so we can begin swapping shortly thereafter. Some folks have asked if the swap is a negotiated trade or just a “bring one, take one.” For now we are certainly in the spirit of “bring what feels right, and take what feels right.” I encourage you, however, to use the comments of this blog to ask around, especially if you are digging up a plant that you could otherwise leave in the ground.
For example: I might post in the comments, “Does anybody want some bee balm?” and see if there is a response. If there is none, then there is certainly no guarantee that there will be a taker for that item. That said, every plant and veggie and fruit and seed found a home last weekend, and I suspect this trend will continue.
So… what are folks thinking about bringing this week?
Norah and the wagon
I had to miss the first swap today for something as equally as important and fun but I did enjoy packing up the wagon with rudbeckia, a half dozen eggs, mint, oregano, parsley, and a bucket of string beans. I sent the family off to the swap.
And came home to hear tales of fun had by all. Raspberry plants, swiss chard, butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, jalepenos and bay leaves adorned my kitchen and porch.
Chris and the girls had a blast swapping and catching up with friends.
And the best part of all was that Norah wanted to make something with the bay leaves, so she and Papa made a huge batch of tomato sauce. When I got home I was just in time for the taste test. YUM!! What a great day.
Can’t wait for next week’s swap!
Oh the bounty!
It was really fun to traipse into town, wagon full of plants (and daughter), and come back home with a wagon full of totally new plants, and better yet, full of good conversation and good coffee (thank you Seven Stones). Now that’s a way to spend a Saturday morning, in my book. I’ve already popped in my rudbeckia, and I’m finding that perfect spot for a few raspberry plants.
Among the harvest was jalapenos, butternut squash, chard, Roma tomatoes, eggplant, basil, parsley, peppermint, bay leaves, raspberries, apples and string beans. There were plants available of raspberry (many — and more available!), black-eyed susan (rudbeckia), hosta, peppermint, I’m sure I’m missing some, and seeds of the sweetest canteloupe. There was even a rain barrel up for grabs! Incredible bounty!!
the goods bring a smile
The Plant Swap will be held every Saturday at 10am sharp on the Plum Street Mall. Come at 10 so we can start swapping by 10:15 or so. While we all stayed and chatted and were in no particular hurry today, we figure this will enable everyone to get a gander on the goods and participate fully.
Give us your feedback; how was it for you?
I used to go back and forth between wanting to live on a “farmette” and staying where I am in a small town. I do have the luxury of having a farming career and it is always nice to come home to our tiny space. I love our house, and our community and the fact that we can walk or bike everywhere. We have over the years turned our little urban space into our own custom built farmette with chickens, composting, rain barrels, fruit, herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Sometimes I kid with everyone and say “if only we could fit in a sheep or goat.” I am very inspired by Food Not Lawns and other movements which encourage the use of under utilized space for food production. I have been slowly getting rid of most of our grass and turning it into growing space. I have been focusing on even the grass strip between the street and the sidewalk as a place for growing. I have a combination of shade, part shade and full sun so it allows me to grow a bit of everything. I love inter-planting vegetables with perennials and flowers. My goal has been to turn our home and garden into a demonstration plot to show others what one can do with a tiny space. Since we live on a corner, we have many people stop and ask us about backyard chickens, vegetable growing and more. On days when I am wishing for a bit more land and a bit more privacy, I remind myself of what we are teaching others. I love the challenge of trying to fit it all into a small space. I may not have room for a goat, but I am still thinking of roof top gardens and maybe even a small greenhouse!