Growing up the Valley: Seed exchange’s new Duvall location attracts new crowd

Published 4:26 pm Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Kristen Walters of Snoqualmie

A new location brought a new crowd to this year’s Snoqualmie Valley Seed Exchange, but the event’s essentials, gardeners swapping seeds and advice was unchanged. Volunteers like Melody Granillo were stationed throughout the Cedarcrest High School commons Saturday to answer questions about various seeds, but the guests were also exchanging tips between themselves.

Alexia Allen of Woodinville talked enthusiastically about her three-month project to eat only what she grows or harvests herself and Maria Gerace of Duvall talked about managing her time to allow her to work on her two gardens – it used to be three – in the Valley.

“I can’t tell you the last time I bought corn, or potatoes,” Gerace said.

There were also plenty of new gardeners at the exchange, too.

“These classes are really packed,” said organizer Susan Alling. “Maybe it’s because we’re further north this year and drawing from different parts… we have totally different people here this year.”

Two classrooms, with sessions on garden planning and germination, were filled while more workshops were being led at displays in the commons.

Among the displays that drew lots of interest was the King County Seed Library (kingcoseed.org) table, where Bill Thorness was sorting and cleaning seed pods for an unusual vegetable, the Black Spanish Radish.

“I don’t really like radishes, but the seed pods, when they’re green, are wonderful in salads,” he told many a seed collector.

Thorness was also a presenter during the day, but in his role with the seed library, he was spreading the word that the three-branch organization was hoping to establish a location in the Snoqualmie Valley.

“It makes sense to have one here,” he said.

The large crowd thinned out for the classes, but remained steady throughout most of the day.

“If this were at the (Fall City) Masonic Hall, we’d be jam-packed right now,” said Darien Payne, also an event organizer.

The seed exchange went through several changes this year, not just location. Payne said some of the core volunteers had to drop out of the event planning, but a handful of people stepped up to take their places.

The event is a joint effort of Transition Snoqualmie Valley, Strategies for Provident Living and BBQ Heiress Events, and the Cedarcrest Future Farmers of America. Learn more at www.snoqualmievalleyseedexchange.org.

Alexia Allen of Woodinville laughs as Bill Thorness shares some of his Black Spanish Radish seedpods. In January, Allen started a project, to eat only food she grew or harvested herself.