Seeds, seedlings, beer

It was a one-stop-shop Wednesday evening for beer and plants. 

Not your typical combination at the Corner Brewery, but with Growing Hope’s seed and seedling swap in the lounge, the brewery was packed with people enjoying a drink while they stocked up on items for their summer garden. 

Approximately 15 gardeners brought seeds and sprouts to swap or give away between 5 and 7:30 p.m. One gardener brought a box full of free heirloom tomato plants but they were snatched up quickly and gone within an hour leaving only little clumps of dirt and a “free” sign. 

Growing Hope, Ypsilanti’s local non-profit dedicated to improving lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access, also brought more than 400 herb and vegetable plants, available for sale and raised at the Growing Hope Center at 922 W. Michigan Ave. Sam Parise of Fairview Farms out of Saline and Fairview brought maple trees for sale along with maple syrup and honey.

Daniel Bair, urban farm manager with Growing Hope, said the organization sold about $300 worth of herb and vegetable plants. He said this is the first year Growing Hope has done and event like this and called it a “success.”

“This is the first year that we have something like this and I really didn’t know what to expect as far as turnout,” Bair said. “We were quite pleased.”

The brewery donated $1 to Growing Hope for every Rat Pad (weekly specialty beer) it sold. Bair said the keg, full of smoked IPA, was empty by the end of the event.