Community members gathered Saturday at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute in Fort Davis for a seed swap that organizers described as a grassroots exchange of locally collected plant seeds and gardening knowledge.
Participants brought seeds they had harvested over the past year, placing them in labeled jars and envelopes on shared tables inside the institute’s visitor center. Attendees browsed selections, traded varieties and discussed planting techniques suited to the Chihuahuan Desert’s climate.
The event drew a mix of longtime gardeners, native plant enthusiasts and residents interested in expanding drought-tolerant landscaping options. Organizers said the swap was intended to encourage seed saving, promote native and adapted species and strengthen community connections around sustainable gardening.
The institute plans to host another seed swap next year on the last Saturday in February and encouraged participants to continue saving seeds for future exchanges.
