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<DIV>Overview<BR>Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC area gardening<BR>enthusiasts, is co-hosting the first annual Washington Seed Exchange<BR>with the U.S. National Arboretum. This seed swap will be in-person and<BR>face-to-face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other<BR>gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden<BR>friends, and expert planting advice. <BR><BR>When<BR>On Saturday, January 28, 2006 from 12:30 - 4:00PM. (Foul weather date:<BR>February 5. Call the USNA at 202.245.2726, if any concern about<BR>snow/ice.) <BR><BR>Where<BR>In the Administration Building Auditorium of the U.S. National<BR>Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC. There is direct<BR>shuttle service from Union Station metro by taking the X6 metrobus. The<BR>bus operates every 40 minutes. Note that the last bus leaves the USNA<BR>grounds at 4:56pm. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York<BR>Avenue, NE, and the other at 24th & R Streets, NE, off of Bladensburg<BR>Road. Go to www.usna.usda.gov/Information/directions.html for the<BR>driving instructions best for your personal point of departure.<BR><BR>How To Register<BR>Go to http://www.usna.usda.gov/Education/regform.pdf to print out the<BR>registration form. If you do not have Internet access, send payment to<BR>U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002,<BR>Attn: Event Registration, EVSU. Specify "Seed Exchange" and include your<BR>full address, phone number, and email. Please make checks out to "USNA."<BR>Registration fee of $15 per person in advance. FONA members and<BR>Washington Gardener subscribers receive a discount rate of $12 per<BR>person. Add a note stating you are a Washington Gardener subscriber or<BR>FONA member in order to receive your discount. There is a limited<BR>enrollment of 125 maximum participants so be sure to register early! <BR>If there are still spaces left at the event, we will accept payment at<BR>the door. The on-site fee is $20 per person ($16 for FONA/WG<BR>subscribers). <BR><BR>If You Have Seeds to Swap<BR>Please package them in resealable plastic zipper sandwich baggies. Put<BR>an average of 20 seeds per baggy - more for small seeds like cleome,<BR>fewer for large seeds like acorns. Then label each baggy with a white<BR>sticker (such as Avery standard 5160 address label sheets) giving all<BR>the information you have on the seeds. If known, include the plant's:<BR>common and scientific names; its soil, sun, and watering needs; and, its<BR>origins - where and when you collected the seeds. If you don't know all<BR>the information, that's okay, just try to provide as much as you can.<BR><BR>What Types of Seeds?<BR>Seed swap categories will include: natives, edibles, herbs, exotics,<BR>annuals, perennials, and woodies (trees/shrubs). If you can pre-sort<BR>your seeds in advance into whichever of these seven major categories<BR>fits best that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.<BR><BR>Education Program <BR>Expert speakers from the USNA faculty will give brief talks on seed<BR>collection and propagation tips. Barbara Melera of D. Landreth Seed Co.<BR>in Baltimore, MD, will talk about the importance of propagating heirloom<BR>plants. There will be ample time for individual Q&A throughout the<BR>program with USNA staff, the featured speakers, and invited experts as<BR>well. <BR><BR>How Do We Swap?<BR>As you check-in, staff will collect your seeds and place them at the<BR>appropriate seed category tables. You will be assigned a random seed<BR>swap number and given a swap card. There will be a short period for<BR>attendees to preview all the seeds brought in and available for<BR>swapping. Then you will be called in by your number to pick a seed pack<BR>from each of the category tables (if desired). Staff will mark off your<BR>swap card to confirm the pick-up. After the initial seed swap is<BR>complete, attendees are free to take any of the leftover seeds and to<BR>trade seeds with each other. Dividing of packets is encouraged and extra<BR>baggies plus labels will be on hand for that purpose.<BR><BR>What If I Don't Have Any Seeds to Swap?<BR>Come anyway! Even if you don't have any seeds to trade you are welcome<BR>to attend! We'll have plenty of extra seed contributions on hand and<BR>many attendees will be there just to learn, network, and prepare for<BR>next year's seed collecting.<BR><BR>Door Prizes! Goodie Bags!<BR>All attendees will receive a goodie bag at the end of the seed swap in<BR>exchange for filling out an evaluation form. The bags include seeds and<BR>items donated by: America the Beautiful Fund, Audubon Society of<BR>Northern Virginia, D. Landreth Seed Co., Nichols Garden Nursery,<BR>Thompson & Morgan Seedsmen, Inc, Washington Gardener magazine, W. Atlee<BR>Burpee. In addition, we have some incredible door prizes to give away<BR>especially for area gardeners. The following companies have generously<BR>donated items: Deerbusters.com/Mastergardening.com, Gardener's<BR>Supply/Dutch Gardens, and Washington Gardener magazine.<BR><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#004000 size=3 PTSIZE="12">Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive Director<BR>Coevolution Institute<BR>423 Washington St. 5th<BR>San Francisco, CA 94111<BR>415 362 1137<BR>www.coevolution.org<BR>www.nappc.org<BR><BR><B><I>Our future flies on the wings of pollinators.</B></I></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>