We normally have several hundred people attend each year and have had people come from all over this part of the country, said Michael Best, a professor of agricultural economics and director of the Sustainable Mountain Ag Center. We have seed vendors set up who sell and trade seeds from several companies and farms.
Some of the seeds available will be various types of corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and okra.
It s where people who love plants and seeds get together and compare what they grew this year. They check out new seeds every year, said Best. They come to the seed swap to talk about the success or failures that they ve had. It s also for people who don t have any seeds to come and get some to start their garden.
This is the first year Oakley Farm will be the site of the annual seed swap, which has been held the last 10 years in Berea, Kentucky.
I m so glad Tennessee Tech has shown an interest in continuing this tradition, said Best of the seed swap. We have a lot going on at the Oakley Farm. We have hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers growing, and all kinds of green beans in both the greenhouse and outdoors.
The farm has a greenhouse program for tomatoes as well as growing vegetables outside. Several field days have been held to educate farmers while helping Tech students get hands-on experience in agriculture.
We are actually getting a lot of students who don t have a farming or agricultural background, said Best. Some of the students come from urban areas, so it gives them a chance to get their hands dirty.
The seed swap will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until approximately 3 p.m. Oakley Farm is located at 295 Deck Cove Lane, Livingston, Tennessee 38570.