Go to your regional forum and lurk, looking for members who live within an hour or 2 of your location and invite them... or... post an announcement in the Get-togethers Forum making SURE to post the city, state and date in the heading. Anyone interested will get in touch with you. May 1st is a good date, as it's both Earth Day, and May Day (and a good time for seedlings). Get a few people who are interested, then make a list. As the date gets closer, email all of them at once with your address, phone, and directions. That's it! If you need any more pointers, you can always email me. Robin in NC

I recommend posting your swap on the regional gardening exchange forum for your area. That is what all of us here in the Pacific NW do and it works very well. Heck just mention it in all your favorite forums. Also put the details on your member's page so you won't have to be e-mailing all the details over and over and over.

I advertise my swaps on the events calendar in our local paper, hand out 1/4 page fliers at my grocery store checkout line, in Nursery parking lots or anywhere else there are people to invite. I also post them at local retail store bulletine boards. I gotta say I'm pretty shameless when it comes to promoting my swaps but it's a lot of fun and I always have a great mix of folks.

We swap everything for the garden, with the exception of chemicals...tools, plants, seeds, garden books/magazines, garden art or stuff that could be made into garden art...that has made the swap even more fun. I also make sure to let new gardeners know they are welcome and also if folks don't have plants to swap tell them to bake cookies, pies or bring homemade preserves to swap. This adds folks to the party who will probably be future long time swappers.
"Be sure to tell folks to mark each plant pot with a name tag" If folks don't know the names of the plants I help folks ID them but they get to write out their own tags. It works very well this way.

We also tend to potluck for swaps since they always seem to run into the lunch hour (11am to 3pm works pretty well).

You may want to set up a specific time for pre-arranged swaps between folks who have contacted one another here on GW or otherwise...the first hour works great for this. Then have an open swap for those who have plants they just want to plain give away (that's always me...lol).

If you don't want to go to all the scheduling trouble let folks know it's an open swap where they will place their items our for whomever to take and if they do pre-arranged swaps they are on their own.

E-mail me if you have any other questions or need me to clarify this blurr of information...and happy swapping :o)
Patty

where in PA do you live? There is a Western PA plant swap in May near Pittsburgh

We've been doing a swap in Central Ohio for a while. There are different ways to do it. I'll link you up to how we do it every year to give you some ideas.

People tell friends and neighbors. Other people are letting their garden clubs know.We also put a notice in our regional forum too.

They are so much fun. Good luck!!!

...Beverly

Here is a link that might be useful: Central Ohio Plant Swap/Potluck link...

Western Pa Plant Swap

May 22nd, 2004

Here is a link that might be useful: Western Pa Plant Swap

I'll be intresting in a plant swap.... I live in allentown area... eastern pa...
bass

Oldherb, you sound like a wise person;) I really like your idea of promoting a local plant swap and inviting anyone that wants to attend. I might have to try that myself. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Hi!

My friend Storygardener is too modest. She's the driving force behind the Central Ohio swap. You can get alot of good intormation from our posting on this forum. Our swap has been a great success for the last three years due to the (often unsolicited) efforts of many. Gardeners are great people!

I'm sure that you'll do fine. Folks are bound to pitch in and help. Just let them know what you need.

Mimi

Hi craft lover,
I have been to the Central Ohio Plant Swap, everytime they have it and I drive 75 or 80 miles to get to it.
Got lost the first time we were there.
My daughter and I got a big round of applause when we finally found the place. I would hate to miss it now.
The way we trade the round robin style is very good. I like that, seems very fair to me, you should try it.
We eat, talk, eat, trade plants, eat, take pictures and then there's always eating!!!! Good Luck with yours.
Hosta la vista Babee!

There is a fellow who has been putting on a plant swap at his house in Lancaster, PA for several years. I can link you up with him, if you live close to Lancaster. I'm in Carlisle, so it's only an hour drive from here. Lots of people, plants and covered dishes (lots to eat). He hasn't put up a website on this swap this year, so I'm not sure he's going to do it, but I can contact him, if you live near to here.

Here's the name & email address of the fellow in Lancaster, PA. He has just moved to a new house and lost most of the email addresses of the people who came to his previous swaps so I am helping him out by posting here. Email to:
"David Gelatt" hortusd@msn.com

If anyone is interested I am organizing a plant swap in Eastern Ohio in June (Deerfield). It will be in Portage county about 40 - 50 minutes west of the PA border and the Poland Ohio area.

More info will be available this week. I have rented our local Township Hall for the event. A beautiful new facility easily accessed from any direction on a State Route. I'm working on a demonstration and there will be a pot luck luncheon and door prizes. You never know what might be happening.

Watch for my post soon.

Stardust

P.S. - anyone that previously contacted me concerning this will need to reply to the new post as I just got a new e-mail account and that means a new e-mail address.

Guys, I am in the metropolis(lol lol) of York Haven (between Harrisburg and York).

I must have 200 strawberry plants, now, and 800 by the end of the growing season..