Popular annual Community Plant Swap happening this month

This month, on Sunday, September 15, gardeners from the area are invited to attend a

Community Plant Swap in the parking lot at City Furniture (previously Furniture Den). Led by

master gardener and Belke Gardens owner Kristen Belke, the swap gives attendees a space to

share plants, take plants or talk about plants.

“I love seeing what plants other people in our community are growing because I can get ideas of

what I can grow,” explained Belke. “It’s nice to talk to people passionate about the same things

you are. It’s not just older people who garden. There’s lots of younger people too, which is nice.”

This year is Belke’s fourth year doing the Community Plant Swap, an idea she borrowed from

Communities in Bloom. “They did it in the Home Hardware parking lot. I attended it and loved it.

When COVID hit, nobody hosted it, and there was a one-year lull where we didn’t have one. So,

I started it back up.”

Typically, she holds the event in the spring, but Belke decided to hold a fall event. “I go early

and set up a couple of tables and what you do is bring the plants that you have to share, big or

small, potted or bare root, whichever is the easiest way for you to bring it. Some people prefer

bare roots because there’s less chance of transferring different weeds,” she explained.

“You set it down on the table or the ground near the table, and people can come and take a

piece of it if it’s a big clump, or if it’s an individual size, they can take the whole thing.” Belke said

they don’t require a “take one and leave one” rule. “It’s too hard to keep track of that, and

honestly, it can discourage someone from coming if they don’t have anything to share. Lots of

people come and don’t want to take anything. They want to share their extras because they

have an abundance. So, you do not need to have something to share to come and take

something.”

Over the years, Belke said people have brought more than plants. “We’ve also had people bring

gardening books or magazines, and even gardening fiction, like storybooks, which were neat.

Seeds are sometimes shared and even tools. It’s not about keeping track or score. It’s about

sharing with others.”

The event is one hour long, starting at 3 pm and ending at 4 pm. Belke recommends that people

arrive early. “Most people get there on time, if not slightly before. Those who come closer to the

end will miss out on 75 percent of the plants. So, come early because that’s when most people

are there.”

She said she hopes to see lots of people come out. “There’s a big homesteading group

here. I’m hoping we can draw those people in because we all have our niches that we are really

good at. I also think it’s an opportunity for mentorship. Some ladies have been part of

Communities in Bloom for a long time, and I like learning from them. Not one person is the

leader of this. We are all coming together.”

The comradery amongst gardeners is something Belke said she looks forward to most. “My

Monday to Friday job, I get to know lots of people in the community, but gardening people, I

don’t see them as often, so events like this bring out people I don’t get to see all the time. I

probably see them only once or twice a year. So, I always look forward to it. Everyone brings

different things. Some people are passionate about indoor plants while other people are really

passionate about vegetable gardening or flower gardening. You get a good mix of people who

are interested in the same things while having differences in how they do things or

what they use.”

Belke said she hopes to see some unusual plants and added that plants don’t need to be

labelled. “I’m always looking for something different. I love Ligularias. There are so many

varieties, and it’s a tall yellow plant. I really like those. Peonies are another hot item. One of my

favourite things to do there is when there’s a plant that we don’t recognize or can’t think of the

name, and we stand around with our plant books or apps trying to figure out what it is,” chuckled

Belke.

Belke credits her dad and grandma for her passion for gardening. Belke said she honours them

in what she does because she considers gardening a true gift. “It doesn’t just give to my family

in food and exercise. I think it really gives so much more in the way of mental health and

connection. It gives us perspective and grounds us. It’s also fun.”

Those attending the Community Plant Swap are encouraged to bring their children along. “My

kids love gardening. They pick peas. They don’t weed yet, but maybe one day,” she laughed. “I

hope that when my kids get older, they will be able to feed themselves, teach their own kids and

leave a legacy behind me.”

Belke said she is open to ideas for growing the plant swap and encourages anyone interested in

joining her to reach out. “Do we want to grow it? Do we want booths? A bouncy castle? Is there

a need in our community to learn how to seed-save or divide plants or find other cost-saving

things? We could share that information, that knowledge.” Anyone interested can visit the Belke

Gardens Facebook page. The Community Plant Swap will occur from 3 pm until 4 pm in the City

Furniture parking lot on Sunday, September 15.