Culture in Bloom: Garden Gather & Swap

To celebrate Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25), ZIRAN hosted the Culture in Bloom: Garden Gather and Swap event on April 27, 2025, at the Hilde Performance Center-Plymouth City Hall parking lot, with support from the Hennepin County Community Zero Waste Grant.

After a week of lively discussions and anticipation in an online chatroom, the Garden Gather & Swap event finally arrived. More than 70 gardeners trickled in, gathering in front of the Veterans’ Memorial Garden by the Hilde Performance Center, eager to exchange planting tips, learn new techniques, discover new plant varieties, and meet fellow avid gardeners.

Participants brought a wide array of cultural vegetable seeds and seedlings to share. By the end of the event, over 250 pots had found new homes. In addition to plants, gardeners also exchanged items such as garden edging, tools, garden tiles, and pot fillers, promoting reuse and community sharing.

A few hobby farmers joined as well, bringing not only their knowledge but also new varieties to introduce to the community.

ZIRAN also helped organize and distribute Arbor Day trees, picked up from the Hennepin County Tree Give Away event by volunteers, ensuring that tree varieties were shared widely among attendees.

The event fostered a spirit of cultural exchange, sustainability, and community connection — truly bringing "culture in bloom."

Reusing household containers or pill bottles helps reduce waste and keeps seeds safe and dry.

Repurposed window envelopes make great seed packets

Fellow gardeners planted the tree seedlings right away

Creative ways of repurposing snow plow markers and water bottles to protect seedlings!