I have attended a NH plant swap several times. A few people bring seeds or annual starts but the emphasis is on perennials. The organizer does a great job, has a large yard, barn and house which is good because it's rain or shine and we have a potluck lunch after the swap so it's nice to be able to eat inside if it's raining. She sets a date many weeks ahead and maintains an email list. Most correspond on garden web listing what they will bring and what they are looking for. People can make trade agreements ahead of time. People who can't bring anything are still encouraged to come but are reluctant to do so. Some people bring things but already have so much they don't want to take anything home. Each person takes a spot around the perimeter of the yard. The organizer has a whistle and divides the yard in half. The first half can visit and ask for plants while the other half stands with their plants. (remind people to bring lawn chairs) BTW the organizer has several carts which people need to unload their cars and bring to yard. Organizer blows whistle so other half can tour yard and make selections. In a little while, people are just doing what they want. After a set amount of time, all leftover plants are put in the middle of the yard for anyone to take. This is a great opportunity for people who don't things to trade. Possible pitfall about mixing swaps and selling is years ago one of our garden club members did sell plants at farmers markets etc and felt free swaps hurt her business. You might have plant sellers set up at a different time. I don't think free swaps and selling at the same time are a good idea. Organizer also arranges to have unwanted garden books, magazines, etc available as door prizes. It's a nice addition. People should wear name tags. It's nice to get to know people from other towns better. It's a great idea. Give it a try.

A group swap is when multiple people sign-up to swap what they have. They take place under the Round Robin Exchange forum. Normally once the swap goes live the participants make a list of items they would be willing to swap and for then you pick the ones you want from the others list you can choose one of someone elses. The plants / seeds/ etc. are then mailed to the designee who swaps all the plants etc into the correct mailer and sends them back out. Thats just the quick version. They are a lot of fun. You should check out the forum and view a couple that are going on right now. I LOVE the seed swaps (they are my fav.) I get alot of awesome seeds that way. Normally whoever is doing the swapping will look at your want list and try to match up your top wants. Its pretty fun. This is the first water one I have done. Hope that helps. Tammy

Hi, all! The Indiana Soapers and Chandlers Alliance is hosting a free seed and plant swap on Saturday, September 25th at 11 am. The swap will be held at the Pleasing Odors Creations soap studio at 10th & Capitol. (Please contact me for more information.) This will be very casual, totally fun event, but we have thrown some suggestions together so there's at least a little bit of order. These are merely suggestions: - Please do not bring commercially purchased seeds or plants to swap. The focus of this swap is on seeds and plants grown by swap participants. - Seeds should be packaged in zippy bags; plants should please be planted in small containers. (Clean butter tubs, egg carton pieces, tin cans, etc. can be used for planting. Please don't spend any money on containers.) - If possible, each trading item should be clearly labeled with the type of seed or plant it contains, information about how the plant or seed should be planted and what conditions it should be grown in, and whether or not the item was organically grown or came from an organically grown plant. If you have additional information about how the plant/herb/vegetable can be used and what its benefits are, please include that. Please contact Pamela at pamela@pleasingodors.com for more information and to RSVP. Thanks so much! We look forward to having fun and meeting new friends at the swap!!! Pamela Reilly Pleasing Odors Creations www.pleasingodors.com

Aloha all, my surgery went very well, so TY very much if you prayed for me. :) The surgical staff were only expecting one problem and they found 2. They did a great job, everything considered. I am still healing up and sore in spots, but despite this I already feel tons better than I did before I had the operation. :) I'm very grateful my health is turning around. About water chestnuts- I don't have a water garden (or water chestnuts) right now but I used to grow them when I lived in Calif. Some large cities such as San Francisco, CA and Houston, TX have a Chinatown. In Chinatown there are Asian veggie markets that sell fresh, unpeeled water chestnuts when they are in season. If you put an unpeeled fresh water chestnut in a water garden it can grow and multiply. Also, water chestnut is sold by a website that specializes in water plants. If you want the specific info please email me, so I can avoid spamming everyone with a merchant URL.