Seed Exchange

One of the most satisfying things about being a member of The Herb Society of America is the opportunity to share with one another. And one of the things that members most like to share is plants and seeds. And not just plants and seeds, but also information about how to collect and save seeds, the best way to start and/or grow the plants and ways to use them as well.

At The Society's yearly educational conference, attendees bring plants and seeds to exchange with the plants and seeds brought by other attendees. This provides everyone with a face-to-face venue for discussing a favorite plant, how to grow it and how to use it. Sometimes these plants have a "story" connected with them that makes them special. They may have been grown for a special occasion or by a particularly knowledgeable or talented member of The Society, someone who had touched another member's life through his/her connection with a particular plant.

Throughout the year members collect seeds, post information about them on the website, and make them available to other members upon request. The information includes:

• the common and botanical names of the plant
• zone limits
• height and spread
• hints for germinating the seed and growing the plant
• its uses
• whether it is potentially invasive
• that it might be a hybrid plant (or cultivar) which would not breed true and could even be sterile

Exchanging plants and seeds with others is an excellent way to learn something new about an herb not grown before, to find a new variety and to share information with someone else who also enjoys the delight of growing herbs.