Introducing The Goldenrod's New Seed Swapping Trading Post

Let's grow something together.

Some of the most hopeful, nurturing and patient people I know in Appalachian Kentucky are seed swappers: the kind of folks who know that growing anything from a pinprick-sized speck into bulbous cauliflower brains or bashful, tenacious morning glories requires the same skillset it takes to build a strong community.

Here at The Goldenrod, we’re hoping to expand the reach of seed swapping in our region through our new Seedtime Exchange, a trading post for central and eastern Kentuckians to swap seeds they have on hand for seeds they want and/or need. Flower seeds, heirloom vegetable seeds, funky fruit—it’s all fair game—with the gardening-curious and those with perpetual dirt under their fingernails alike welcome to join in. What’s more, we hope that these seed-and-plant-focused classified ads can serve as a way to help fight food insecurity in the region: later in the season, we’ll be putting out a call for folks who might want to trade produce or giveaway excess fruits and vegetables locally. Because who among us hasn’t ended up with a bucket (or twelve) of excess cucumbers and can’t imagine canning one more jar of pickles?

Here’s how it works:

List the seeds that you’d like to send out into the (local) universe via The Goldenrod’s Seedtime Exchange by simply filling out this short form, and your listing will be included in the upcoming month’s edition. See something you like? Make the person an offer using their preferred contact method. Once it’s listed, we’re out of the picture, so treat this like a matchmaking service. (Also, feel free to jump in the comment section to make your listings and connect directly! Win-win.)

(Rowan County Rambling Hog Heart is high up there on the list of “best tomato names” in my book…)

Listings will appear on The Goldenrod the last Friday of each month starting April 29. You can relist as many times as you want, but have to do so each month.

Is it that easy? Yep, that easy. We're here to help plant the seeds for healthier, more connected and engaged communities in our region any way we can. Let’s grow something together.

Here’s an example listing of a seed that I’ll be looking to trade:

Madison County Pink Tomato

Origin: Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center, Berea, KY
Contact: Sarah B., thegoldenrodnews@gmail.com
Open To: Trade, Barter
In Search Of: Short-cut greasy beans, lettuces, unique tomatoes, climbing roses, perennial flowers
Notes: Heirloom tomato straight from the Kirksville community in Madison County, these beauties are ideal beefsteak slicers: perfect for late summer tomato-and-squishy-white-bread sandwiches.

Questions? Give us a shout: thegoldenrodnews@gmail.com

(Every local Kentucky seed tells a story—some that include Patricia Neal!)

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We’ll be back Thursday with an in-depth look at this year’s hope-springs-eternal seed swaps, plant trades and cutting giveaways across Appalachian Kentucky. Get inspired by what your neighbors are doing, then list your wares on the Seedtime Exchange so that you can have your own yarn to spin about how your future-favorite carrot or radish came through a local trade. Seeds and stories go hand-in-hand, after all.

On a wholly different note, if you’re a customer of Louisville Gas and Electric or Kentucky Utilities, the Public Service Commission is seeking insight about how they can better serve their communities over the next 15 (!) years. If you have opinions about your utility service (and who doesn’t?) leave a public comment here. The deadline to submit your experiences/recommendations/constructive gripes is April 15, so gather your thoughts and hit the “submit” button by Friday.

We’ll be doing quite a bit more work regarding the Public Service Commission in the coming weeks, so stay tuned…