Ready to get your garden in tip-top shape for spring? Washington County is hosting a Garden Tool Swap event on May 7, offering residents a chance to give their unused gardening tools new life and perhaps find something new for their own green endeavours. As reported in a recent announcement on the county’s website, the swap will be held simultaneously at two locations: the North Environmental Center in Forest Lake and the South Environmental Center in Woodbury, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
According to the Washington County announcement, the event is entirely free and open to anyone interested in participating. No donations are required to walk away with up to three items per person. For those looking to clear out their sheds and garages, donations are being accepted through May 3 at both Environmental Center locations. They can be dropped off at the front desk or through the drive-thru lane.
The swap is a haven for gardeners, with a variety of tools and accessories on the accepted list, including shovels, trowels, rakes, pitchforks, and decorative pots and planters—with the stipulation that they must be devoid of soil or dirt. Bird houses and feeders are welcomed along with garden art and decor. However, things that aren't being accepted include mowers or other power tools, broken items, and anything that's too cumbersome to carry like potting soil, dirt, or rocks.
Any items that remain after the Garden Tool Swap will find new life in local donation, reinforcing the community ethos of sustainability and sharing. It's an opportunity not just to declutter, but to contribute to a cycle of communal generosity that benefits everyone—from the seasoned gardener looking for that unique bird feeder to the novice still searching for the right tools to break ground on their first bed of flowers.
