Chapter Calendar

From the Roanoke Rambler:Spring Seed Swap Event at Blindhouse Beer on March 14

Mark your calendars for a free community seed exchange event on March 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Blindhouse Beer (534 Salem Ave SW, Roanoke). 

The event is organized by local Roanoke artist and farmer DeHanza Kwong; the seed swap is a natural extension of her monthly Drink & Draw events (held at Blindhouse Beer from November to February), which seeks to provide a safe, nonjudgmental community space and art supplies for drawing, and to showcase a local nonprofit, which has included Southwest Virginia Wildlife Association, Ladies and Gents of the Blue Ridge Transgender Alliance and Saint Francis Service Dogs. A portion of the evening’s beer sales benefit the featured nonprofit, and representatives are also invited to attend, talk about their organization and bring representatives to inspire attendees’ drawings (like portraits of drag queens or guide dogs, for example).

“We've had incredible success so far,” Kwong says. “People of all skill levels show up, connect with their neighbors, learn about important local causes and discover their creative side in the process.”

Last year, Kwong, who operates BirdnD Farm in Bent Mountain with her partner, hosted a seed swap as part of a Drink & Draw event in partnership with LEAP. She noted that folks seemed most interested in exchanging seeds and learning about gardening, so this year’s event won’t include a nonprofit beneficiary or drawing focus. Bringing seeds to swap is optional; free seeds will be offered by Wild Ones Roanoke Region Chapter, which specializes in native plants, and the Salem Public Library’s free seed library. “I used to manage a seed library as a reference library,” Kwong says. “It can be a lot of money for an upstart ; if people get free seeds and information, it may give them the courage to start.”