Greater Grand Rapids Community Seed Exchange

Many of you have already started ordering seed catalogs and thinking about starting your home gardens! This winter has been brutal and I definitely have Spring Fever.  The Grand Rapids Chapter of NoGMO4Michigan and some very special, local farms have been busy planning!  We've put together an event that's sure to please all home gardners.  Please join us for the get to know your farmer / seed exchange portion of the event from 10AM to 11:30AM.   The following farms and organizations will be on hand to discuss seeds, exchange seeds, and offer advice.  The event and all workshops are FREE!  

• BLACKBIRD FARMS
• Chimney Creek Farm
• Earthkeeper Farm
• GreenOrganic Specialties
• Green Wagon Farm
• Groundswell Community Farm
• Growing Green Family Farm
• Growco, Indoor Garden Supply
• Kent District Library
• MICHIGAN BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOC
• New City Neighbors Urban Farm
• NoGMO4Michigan
• Reformation Growers
• Victoria Kay Design – Permaculture

Green Wagon Farm will be selling organic soil blocks to start your seeds in.  The cost is 5$ per block.  Blocks will be sold at their farm table and picked up outdoors via a ticket system.

After you get your seeds and soil - we have some amazing and very informative workshops for you to attend! Many of the farmers participating in the exchange will also be offering a workshop.  Please be sure to thank each farm and those volunteering their time to make this event happen.  

Workshops are as follows:

• 11:30- 12PM   Permaculture Techniques in the Garden

• 12 – 12:30PM  Holistic Gardening, Soil Health, & Companion Planting
• 12:30 – 1PM  GMO, What you need to know

• 1 – 1:30PM  Saving our Honeybee’s
• 1:30 – 2PM  Basics of Seed Saving
• 2 – 2:30PM  Timing plants for a full seasons harvest
• 2:30 – 3PM  Growing Hydroponics
• 3 – 3:30PM  Beneficial Insects

Please share this event with your friends and family!  Event is open to the public and we welcome the community to share in the celebration of seed.  You do not need to bring seeds to participate! Our founding fathers were farmers, and they knew that seed mattered.  It's time to share the story of seed, it's time to protect the diversity and genetic integrity of our seed, and it's time for Grand Rapids to protect the interests of small-scale family farms,  regional agriculture, and organic farming.  VOTE WITH YOUR FORK!!!

Please consider donating $5.00 to NoGMO4Michigan so we can continue to offer FREE educational events to the Grand Rapids Community!  Please RSVP:  http://www.nogmo4michigan.org/grand_rapids_community_seed_exchange