Expert gardening tips and more on tap at Seed Swap in Vandergrift

A new garden-themed event is sprouting up in Vandergrift.

Gardeners are invited to gather for a free Community Seed Swap from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Vandergrift Public Library.

Seed swaps are events in which participants can bring veggie or flower seeds to exchange and learn gardening tips from guest master gardeners.

Anyone with an interest in gardening is invited to attend.

The one-hour event is hosted by Penn State Master Gardeners, Armstrong County, Vandergrift Public Library and the Vandergrift Parent Project.

This year, the seed swap has a new venue.

Shannon Gourley, co-founder of the Vandergrift Parent Project, said previous seed swaps were held at the Vandergrift Community and Children’s Garden at Franklin Park in Vandergrift.

“We thought it would be a good location to attract more adult members from our community to volunteer to help in the garden,” Gourley said.

Gourley said participants are invited to bring their own seeds for swapping.

If new to gardening, they can select several seeds to take home.

Attendees can expect to choose from pumpkin, sunflower, corn, tomato, flower seeds, beans, peppers and zucchini seeds.

“Just about anything people grow in a Western Pennsylvania garden,” Gourley said.

Organizers are hopeful the event will help recruit new, adult volunteers.

Gourley said about five volunteers currently tend the gardens in the summer, but ideally about 20 volunteers are needed.

“Even if you’ve never planted a garden before, this is a great event to meet a master gardener and learn more, get tips and have seeds to start in a garden,” Gourley said.

Gardeners with questions may email Vanessa Groholski of the Vandergrift Library at vanessa.groholski@wlnonline.org.

To register online, click here.

To register by phone, call 724-568-2212.