Best of Blawnox hosts seed swap, preps for community garden

A seed swap hosted by the Best of Blawnox group was aimed at growing community spirit, organizers said.

More than 100 people turned out to share gardening tips and exchange vegetable and flower seeds in preparation of growing season.

“We had a great day,” organizer Diane Casile said. “It was a great event for folks to get together as we prepare for the gardening season.”

Best of Blawnox was launched earlier this year and enlists volunteers to perform community service, such as snow shoveling for senior citizens or picking up litter along borough streets.

The group is preparing to install a community garden at the park along Center Street.

With support from GROW Pittsburgh, members are bringing back the garden which was put on hiatus last year because of covid-19 concerns.

Raised beds were cleaned as part of the borough’s Earth Day cleanup, Casile said, and there are already 20 people who have expressed interest in participating.

Volunteers will begin soon to plant tomatoes, zucchini, beans and other high-yield vegetable plants, Casile said.

The mission is to share the garden’s harvest with residents who are in need.

There won’t be room for people to plant their own plot but volunteers are welcome to pull weeds, water and pick the veggies as they grow.

“Since this is our first year, we are starting small,” Casile said.

She said as the garden evolves, the group hopes to be able to offer space and growing opportunities to others.

She said they also plan to have an educational component for children to learn to garden.

Gardening guru Doug Oster was the special guest at the May 1 seed swap, and guests enjoyed learning tips from the well-known green-thumb.

“He was kind enough to stay until every question was answered,” Casile said. “Spring is here and everyone has started thinking of planting a garden. This was an opportunity to get free seeds and bring people together.”