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National Seed Swap Day

Spread the love of gardening on National Seed Swap Day - swap your favorite seeds and grow your botanical dreams!

Saturday

January 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATELast Saturday in January

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYHobbies

SUBCATEGORYGardening

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Ready to cultivate some fun on National Seed Swap Day this January 27? Created by Kathy Jentz of Washington Gardener Magazine in 2006 as a way to bring fellow gardeners together, this day is dedicated to sharing and swapping seeds. Garden enthusiasts and green thumbs all around the world are encouraged to exchange seeds from their favorite plants, fostering a sense of community and good will. National Seed Swap Day is the optimal time to expand your botanical collection, make new gardening friends, and continue to blossom your passion for all things green and growing!

TIMELINE

National Seed Swap Day Timeline

Early Seed Exchange

Seed exchanges were commonplace among farmers and gardeners to enhance crop diversity and resilience.

Establishment of Seed Savers Exchange

The non-profit organization, Seed Savers Exchange, was founded in Iowa with the mission to conserve and promote America's culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations.

Global Seed Vault

Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure seed bank located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, was established to preserve and secure large quantities of seeds in a global effort to prevent a significant loss of crop diversity.

First National Seed Swap Day

National Seed Swap day was established by Kathy Jentz of Washington Gardener Magazine as a day dedicated to sharing and swapping the seeds of different plant species.

Annual Seed Swapping Celebration

Every year on January 27, gardening enthusiasts all over the world celebrate National Seed Swap Day, fostering a sense of community, promoting biodiversity, and nurturing their love for gardening.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Seed Swap Day

Host a Seed Swap Party

Invite all your friends and neighbors who share a love for gardening to bring their choice seeds to swap. Also, organize some gardening games for added fun.

CREATE

Create Seed Art

Seeds aren't just for planting. Use different types of seeds to create a unique piece of art. This activity can be combined with the seed swap party and works great for kids.

DONATE

Donate Seeds to a Community Garden

Community gardens always welcome donations. Take this day as an opportunity to give back to your community and donate seeds to your local community garden.

ATTEND

Attend a Gardening Workshop

Use this day to expand your knowledge about gardening by attending a local workshop or seminar. Not only will you learn something new, but you can also share your spare seeds with fellow attendees.

START

Start a Seed Library

A seed library works like a traditional library, but instead of books, you loan seeds! This is a great long-term project that would really celebrate the spirit of Seed Swap Day and provide an ongoing resource for your community.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Seed Swap Day

It encourages sharing and giving back to the community

National Seed Swap Day isn't just about receiving — it's also about giving. Whether you're donating seeds to a community garden or starting your own seed library, this day promotes goodwill and worthwhile contributions to your community.

It brings gardening enthusiasts together

National Seed Swap Day is a celebration that fosters community among those who share a love for gardening. Whether you're a professional horticulturist or a home gardener, this day gives everyone a chance to connect and share their passion for plants.

It's an opportunity to expand your garden variety

By swapping seeds with others, you get the chance to add unique plants to your garden that you might not have encountered otherwise. This can add diversity and excitement to your gardening projects, and might even introduce you to a new favorite plant!