The Mapleton-Fall Creek (MFC) Unity group is hosting its second annual city-wide FREE Plant Exchange on Saturday, May 8 from 1-2 PM, rain or shine, at 34th and Broadway in the heart of MFC. Ample parking is available along the street or in nearby surface lots.
Indy residents are encouraged to bring their non-invasive plants, seedlings or seeds including divided perennials, bulbs, tubers, pond plants or indoor plants, vegetable or flower seeds or seedlings to share. Likewise, anyone is welcome to take what he or she needs from the wide variety of plants at the exchange. Small donations will be accepted from those who don’t bring plants to share, but are NOT required. If possible, residents bringing plants should arrive fifteen minutes early and label their plant donations (perennial, biennial, annual, herb, seeds, bulbs, indoor, etc.) and note whether the plant thrives in sun or shade as well as flower color, if applicable.
If you’d like to donate plants but need help dividing the ones in your yard, please contact Sarah Wiehe at indytilth@gmail.com or at 317.797.3392. Volunteers are needed to dig perennials the two weekends before the Plant Exchange (April 24- 25 and May 1-2). Additionally, volunteers are needed to organize the plants and give advice on plant care during the Plant Exchange (May 8, 1-2 PM). If you’d like to volunteer or drop off extra plants prior to the event, contact Wiehe ASAP at the number/email address above.
More than 80 people from around Indianapolis participated in last year’s inaugural Plant Exchange. “Last year’s exchange was a big hit with far more interest projected this year,” stated organizer Sarah Wiehe, a MFC resident and MFC Unity group member. “Several other cities around the US are already doing very successful annual free plant exchanges,” noted Master Gardener and Plant Exchange committee member Dawn Marie.
Additional information and promotional flyers to pass to your friends and neighbors can be found at the IndyTilth website at http://www.indytilth.org/plantexchange.html. If you would like a brief presentation made to your organization, please email indytilth@gmail.com.
The MFC Unity Group consists of an informal collection of neighbors from all parts of the MFC area served by the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation, including the Historic Meridian Park, Watson-McCord, traditional Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhoods, and Haywood Park. The Plant Exchange grew from discussions held at neighborhood-wide Unity Forums staged to develop camaraderie, cohesiveness, and engagement. These forums were made possible through an IMAGINE grant from the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiative.