Diversify your collection of garden and house plants for FREE by trading with others at our biannual plant exchange. Each spring and fall you can meet other gardeners in Columbia Heights, explore their available plants, bring some of your own, or just come as you are. Traders often give away:
- Perennial plants
- House plants
- Seeds
- Gardening tools
- Gardening magazines
- Garden decorations
When
Spring Exchange
CANCELED
Fall Exchange
CANCELED
If heavy rain or extreme weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled. Watch this page and social media for updates.
Event Cancelled
Jumping Worms are an invasive species that are radically altering the soil structure and chemistry. They spread from gardening, horticulture, composting, landscaping, and events like this plant exchange. Learn more about Jumping Worms on the MN DNR website.
Where
Kordiak Park
1845 49th Ave NE
Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Park near the other gardeners to keep the event collected in a single area.
Face masks and social distancing are required.
Preparing your plants
Plants do not need to be potted, but must be in some kind of container, such as:
- Cups
- Boxes
- Buckets
- Plastic bags
Please label your plants ahead of time. It’s helpful to include:
- Common name of the plant
- Sun/shade requirement
- Height/space needs
Additional labeling materials will be available at the event check-in.
How it Works
Unlike other plant exchanges, this is not a first-come-first-serve sprint. Everyone is welcome. Even those who come without anything to trade can participate in this plant exchange.
First, arrive on time and park near the other gardeners. Unload your plants and other items for trade directly behind your vehicle.
Then, check in with the organizers, and get to know other people in the community. Everyone will freely browse the available items for 5 minutes before the exchange begins.
The plant exchange happens in rounds to encourage fairness for everyone at all levels of mobility.
- At the beginning of each round, everyone meets in the middle of the parking lot.
- When directed, all participants simultaneously choose one plant each, put it inside their own vehicle, and return to the middle of the parking lot.
Rounds continue until the plants and other giveaway items are spoken for.
TIP: Sometimes multiple plants arrive in one container. You might want only one, so it’s best to bring a few empty containers of your own, just in case.
Enjoy your new plants!
Watch this page and social media for announcements about the next seasonal plant exchange.