By Staff Reports

Citizens of Crenshaw County and beyond were able to trade plants and cuttings at the first official plant swap held July 20. The inaugural event, organized by locals and Crenshaw County Extension, was held at the Tom Harbin Ag Center on Airport Road in Luverne.

By definition, a plant swap is an event where people can exchange plants, seeds, cuttings and more with others who also have an interest in plants and plant cultivation. 

“If people see something they like, they can swap what they brought for something new.” said Jayden Powell, Administrative Support Associate for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “It’s an opportunity for plant lovers to get more plants, learn how to take care of them and love them and to make connections while meeting and greeting with everybody.”

The idea for the plant swap was sparked via a successful plants swapping station spearheaded by Megan Conrad, a Magnolia Shores resident. Conrad created a plant swapping station in her yard, then promoted the set up via Facebook. Conrad has organized a few plant swaps in the past but this was the first with collaboration from Crenshaw County Extension. 

“It turned out great,” Conrad said. “These plant swaps are a great idea, especially for somebody just starting out. I’m hoping to collaborate with Jayden and the extension office on another plants swap at the Tom Harbin Ag Center in the fall.”

Conrad is holding another plant swap August 31 at the park in Lapine.

For people new to plant cultivation, the Crenshaw County Extension Office provided a variety of free plants that did not require being swapped out for another plant, as well as handouts and information about fall gardening, landscaping and annual flowerbeds. 

People brought in a variety of plants to be traded; from cactuses, to vegetable seeds, house plants and more. 

“I brought some snake plants – that’s what people call them – they’re indoor plants that purify the air and it’s hard to kill,” Powell said. “I’ve got some citronella plants as well that are good for mosquitoes. They smell really good, and they do really well outside.”

The plant swap is part of a broader community-driven initiative. With a propagation station found in Magnolia Shores and at the Ag Center in Luverne and one in the works for Brantley, the project aims to rejuvenate the once-common practice of swapping plants with neighbors and friends, an activity that, according to Powell, fosters a closer-knit community and successful collaboration that ultimately benefits the entire county.

Accordion to Powell, the vision of Alabama Extension is “Serving communities to grow a better Alabama and a better world.” 

“The Propagation Station and Plant Swaps are part of my duty to fulfill that vision,” Powell said. “I am so thankful that Megan’s ideas have allowed our office to collaborate with plant lovers all across our county.  As a part of the Alabama Extension mission, we are here to provide you with science-based information, practical solutions and meaningful experiences. Our office is looking forward to planning the next plant swap and we hope that we will have a much larger turnout next time

For more information on the plant swaps or for information on services offered through Extension, contact the Crenshaw County Extension Office at 334-335-6312.