Annual Seed Swap January
The Orleans Community Seed Share will host its annual seed swap on Saturday, January 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the CCE Orleans ‘Buzz’ Hill Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. The free event is open to gardeners of all experience levels.
Participants are encouraged to bring seeds to share, including open-pollinated varieties, locally saved seeds, and excess seeds from orders or donations. All contributed seeds will be displayed on tables alongside seeds from the Orleans Community Seed Share collection. Attendees may browse and select seeds to take home for their 2026 gardens.
The event will feature seed and gardening demonstrations, activities, and information about two new 2026 Seed Share initiatives:
● One Seed, One Community: Working with the CCE Orleans Food Distribution program to teach participants how to grow nutritious food and save seeds.
● Grow a Row: Partnering with the Master Gardener Vegetable Variety Trial Gardens to encourage community members to dedicate garden space to specific crops, gathering data about variety performance and seed-saving techniques.
Seeds not accepted at the swap include F1 hybrids, patented varieties, poisonous, noxious, or controlled seeds, and seeds from unknown volunteer plants.
No registration is required for this event. Contributors may remain with their donated seeds during the event to provide growing advice and information, but it is not necessary.
The Orleans Community Seed Share cultivates community resilience and biodiversity by preserving, sharing, educating, and celebrating the heritage of seeds and plant propagation.
For any questions or more details, contact Katie Oakes, Master Gardener Coordinator and Horticulture Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension Orleans County at 585-798-4265 ext. 125 or klo54@cornell.edu.
Provided information and photos
