CONWAY—The University of Central Arkansas’s Conserving Arkansas’s Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) project will co-sponsor 14 Seed Swaps across Arkansas this spring.
Also cosponsored by churches, farmer groups, libraries, a state park, and the Southern Seed Legacy, the communities of Yellville, Mountain View, Little Rock, Ashdown, Russellville, Harrison, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Walnut Ridge, Searcy, Jasper, Eureka Springs, El Dorado, and Conway will host Seed Swaps.
Seed Swaps provide an opportunity for seed and agriculture enthusiasts to bring open-pollinated (heirloom) seeds, bulbs and plants to share or “swap” with others.
“If you have no seeds to swap, but want to get started, come mingle with gardeners and farmers who can help, and perhaps bring along some coin envelopes, garden implements, or good cheer to trade,” said Brian C. Campbell, PhD, director, CAAH! project and associate professor of anthropology. “We conserve the heritage of Arkansas as we share good stories, beautify our yards, feed our friends and family, and of course, trade open-pollinated seeds.”
The CAAH! project establishes a master collection of endangered seeds and related cultural and agronomic information, and distributes such seeds at annual Seed Swaps. University of Central Arkansas students document the seeds, grow them out in CAAH! gardens to distribute to the next season, and catalogue them in a database of local varieties.
“CAAH! is always looking for gardeners and farmers to assist by growing out seeds and returning the surplus seeds to the seed bank for redistribution,” Campbell said.
To see the full schedule of Seed Swaps and for more information on the CAAH! project, visit http://www.arkansasagro.wordpress.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/CAAH-Conserving-Arkansass-Agricultural-Heritage/185252044827615 , or send a message to conservingarkansas@gmail.com.
