Recipe and Seed Swap
A couple weeks ago I was stuck in rush hour traffic and I came up with the bright idea to host a seed swap, but with a little DigginFood twist. Instead of just sending seeds, I decided it would be way more fun if everyone sent their favorite recipe and a packet of seeds for one of the recipe’s ingredients.
I’ve been wanting to organize a swap ever since I participated in the Punk Rock Garden Swap that Renee Garner organized last year. It was so, so fun and I got some really cool stuff. Renee is an amazing gardener, graphic designer, and artist who blogs at Wolfie and the Sneak and at Modish. Renee has created a series of really beautiful, free downloads at Wolfe and the Sneak, including Easy Peasy Compost Instructions, a garden planning worksheet, and a set of lovely recipe cards! So I asked Renee if she would be willing to share the recipe cards for this swap and she most generously agreed (Thanks, Renee!).
To help manage the swap, I’m using Swap Bot, which is a website that makes organizing swaps easier for people who are slightly disorganized (like me). Here’s how it works.
1. To sign up for the Feed Me: Recipe and Seed Swap click on this link: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/35078
The password for the swap is: DigginFood
2. You’ll need to register on Swap Bot (don’t worry, it’s free, quick, and simple). The last day to register is next Tuesday, April 21. On April 22nd you’ll get an email from Swap Bot with the address of your partner.
3. For the swap, you’ll need to choose a favorite recipe. Then, download the recipe cards designed by Renee (just click on the recipe card image above to download the PDF or click here). Print the recipe cards on matte card stock. Write your recipe on a card, get seeds for one of the ingredients, wrap everything up nice and pretty and send it off to your partner by April 28.
4. I have just a few swapping hints. It’s probably a little late to send seeds of warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants that need to be started indoors. Consider choosing a recipe that highlights fresh vegetables or herbs. If you sign up for the swap, be sure to send off your recipe and seeds by April 28, otherwise you’ll leave your partner hanging.
I’m planning on setting up a Flickr group so swap participants can upload photos of their seeds, of the plants growing in their gardens, and the dishes they make with their new recipes. If you’ve never done a swap before, you should try it! It’s a great way to connect with people who share your interests and getting your package in the mail is super, super fun!
I definitely need to get into gardening mode, right? Cahnge gear… still contemplating… I’m going to miss the season……. I’m late, I’m late…
April 14th, 2009 at 9:26 amThis sounds fun! How many seeds do you usually send? A whole packet, or some you have left that you grew and liked?
April 14th, 2009 at 8:47 pmThe other swap idea that I keep thinking would be fun is a seedling swap. For those of us who do a lot of seed starting, we always end up with extra seedlings. Of course, you’d need to arrange a local seedling swap to make it work out.
April 14th, 2009 at 9:40 pmNurit–Don’t worry, you still have plenty of time to get started gardening! Maybe start with a few containers this year or just a couple of raised beds. I can recommend a garden coach who could help you get everything sorted out if you like.
Juliana–You can send a packet of seeds or seeds that you saved (I think it would be so, so cool to get saved seeds). Just be sure to include enough for a good planting.
Sandy–I love the idea of a local seedling swap. If you organize I would happily participate!
April 14th, 2009 at 10:24 pmI ‘d love to participate !!! do you think it is not allowed to send seeds from France ?
April 15th, 2009 at 10:43 amWhat a neat idea for a swap. I`d love to participate, but I live in Guatemala.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:54 amI wish you participate La marquise des anges and Gourmet Mama, but unfortunately customs doesn’t like for people to ship plants (I know from experience, I once had a stern talking to and some plants taken from me at the Vancouver airport!). Maybe you could do a similar swap with your gardening friends at home!
April 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pmYou just confirmed what I thought Willi … and to be honest it makes sense. I am just disappointed as i would have to be part of YOUR little swap adventure
I will do it “locally” as each year …. caan’t wait to see pictures in the flickr group
April 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pmGreat idea Willi! I’m going to announce it on my blog if that’s okay…
April 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pmAlan–Of course! The more the merrier.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:50 pmWHAT are those stunning beans in your (or somebody’s) hands? I must have them!
and I love the swap idea – getting a recipe with seeds? Awesome!
April 15th, 2009 at 7:02 pmOo! I wish I could participate, but unless there’s another Canuck signed up, I’ll have to pass. US Customs scares me.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:31 pmI would love to join the swap as well!! Do you have anyone else from Utah participating yet?
April 16th, 2009 at 7:00 amGardeningMama–We don’t having any other Utah gardeners…yet! But we do have gardeners from all over the place. Rhode Island, Missouri, Oklahoma, Washington. I can’t wait to see who we all get matched up with!
April 16th, 2009 at 9:25 amI loved the article of Willi in the Sunset magazine April 2009. I have been trying every where to find a garden basket like the metal one you are pictued with on page 67. Any ideas?
April 16th, 2009 at 7:56 pmIt would be a perfect basket to pick newly grown veggies…
Lori
Lori–So glad you liked the article. Thanks! Here’s a link to a harvesting basket that is similar to the one I have in the photo:
April 17th, 2009 at 7:50 amhttp://www.olivebarn.com/vegetable-basket.html
Totally joining!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:18 pmI’m on my way to join. Glad I didn’t wait too long. This was one of those busy, busy weeks. Thanks for such a grand idea. Those cards are really pretty too.~~Dee
April 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pm[...] To find our more about our swap and to sign up, just click here. [...]
April 20th, 2009 at 11:32 amWilli-
This is really hard! How do I choose just one; there are so many possibilities! Green Tomato and Sausage Pie? Spinach Quiche? Butternut Squash Risotto? Anything Pizza?
I think I’ll just choose the one with the shortest growing season, for this year and hope that we’ll all do it again next year.
-g
April 20th, 2009 at 3:32 pmi’d love to participate too and i’m in canada- would be happy to partner with a canadian that wants to swap
April 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pmHi Willi, I’ve been reading your site for a while now and saving all the interesting bits. Just read your about your recipe & seed swap this morning. Oooh….What a swell idea and how I wish I could join the swap too. Just came back from a holiday in Thailand and I bought seeds from both Thailand and China which I obtained at the Burmese (now known as Myanmar) border. I picked the seeds based on the pictures since I couldn’t read the 2 languages, then later my Chinese friend told me that some of the vege are meant for spring/autumn.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:45 pmI live in sunny Malaysia. I wonder- is there anyone else from this region who would like to swap?
My contact is linda_susanna@yahoo.com.
Linda Susanna–Wow! I’d love to see some photos of the vegetables once you’ve grown them. Good luck with them.
Marget–I know there were a few other Canadians interested in swapping. Maybe you could set up a swap up there!
Grace–I am having exactly the same problem choosing a recipe!
Dee–I’m so glad that you signed up. And I agree, the cards are beautiful.
Sonrie–Thanks for joining the swap. I can’t wait to find out who my partner will be.
April 20th, 2009 at 10:19 pm[...] the last day to sign up… and well i am always fashionably late. the swap is being hosted by digginfood (my first) and is an exchange of recipes and the seeds needed to grow one of the main [...]
April 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pmHi Willi, I have some of these wonderful beans that you have pictured above. They were given to me by a friend and have not information about them at all.
Do you have any idea what they are called?
February 13th, 2010 at 11:36 pmHey August 95–Those are Scarlet Runner Beans. They grow on a vine that can reach 15 feet tall or more and do best when planted in full sun and when the soil is pretty warm. I usually plant mine at the very end of May.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:56 amThank you so much Willi.
so excited to plant these beautiful beans. Bet they would make a great wall beside the hot tub.
February 18th, 2010 at 11:33 amAre you going to do the recipe seed swap for April 2013. I have lots of seeds to share. Please!
August 28th, 2012 at 12:38 pm