The 4th Annual Seedy Saturday Seed Swap offers garden fans the chance to share their seeds with others, talk gardening, share stories, learn seed-saving strategies and more.
The swap is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Wright Congregational UCC Church, 4821 W. Franklin Road in Boise. Cost is $2 per person.
You don't have to bring your own garden-saved seed to participate, but if you do plan to take seeds home, bring your own packets, paper bags or envelopes, pens and paper.
Here is the workshop lineup for the day:
• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Seed Saving 101. Learn the basics. Topics include botany and plants' sex lives, hybrid vs. open pollinated seeds, and garden design.
• 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.: Processing seed: Learn the difference between wet and dry seed saving, how to know when a seed is "ripe" and the basics of cleaning and storage.
For more information, contact Beth Rasgorshek at 697-6208 or find Treasure Valley Seed Savers on Facebook.
TRINITY COMMUNITY GARDENS OFFERS CLASSES
Trinity, best known for gleaning efforts in Canyon County that have gotten tons of good produce to food pantries instead of landfills, is offering courses for aspiring gardeners.
Basic gardening classes will be held Saturday at The Colombian Center, 2900 Railroad (the Bingo Hall), and Feb. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
An advanced class will be held March 16 at The Colombian Center and March 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
All classes begin at 10 a.m. The cost is $7 or $10 for both levels. RSVP: 442-0535.
DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS LINGUISTS TRYING TO SAVE LANGUAGES FROM EXTINCTION
Scientists say that half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today will be extinct by the end of this century.
The Boise State Linguistics Association and the English Majors Association host a free screening of the documentary "The Linguists" at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom.
Linguistic scientists David Harrison and Gregory Anderson, subjects of the documentary, will lead a question/answer session after the film.
The film follows the two during their travels from Siberia, where they record the Chulym language that hasn't been heard by outsiders for more than 30 years, to Bolivia, where they encounter the Kallawaya language, spoken by fewer than 100 people.
LOCAL GIRLS WIN COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARDS
Abigail Blue, 17, of Meridian, and Katie Skarpnes, 12, of Caldwell, were named Idaho's top youth volunteers of 2013 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
The national program honors middle school and high school students for outstanding volunteer service.
The program recognized Blue for her work with a number of organizations to promote understanding and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and to provide support to LGBT youths.
Skarpnes was honored for volunteer work at her school, dance studio, church and 4-H club.
The program also recognized two Idaho finalists, Kyle Ashby, 17, and Carl Breidenbach, 18, both from Boise.
Blue and Skarpnes will receive $1,000, engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C., where they will join 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country for four days of national recognition events.
Read more online. Link through this column at idahostatesman.com.
SEARCH IS ON FOR IDAHO'S OUTSTANDING SENIOR VOLUNTEER
Home Instead Inc.'s "Salute to Senior Service" program honors volunteers who are 65 or older and give at least 15 hours a month to a cause. If you know of a deserving senior, the program is accepting nominations until March 31. The public will be able to vote online to select state winners from April 15 to 30 at SalutetoSeniorService.com.
The program will donate $500 to each state winner's favorite charity. A panel of senior care experts will select a national winner, and donate $5,000 to their chosen charity. Find more details and the nomination form online. Link to Salute to Senior Service through this column at idahostatesman.com.
PUBLIC INVITED TO FREE BREAST CANCER FORUM
Sponsored by Boise Anesthesiology Group, St. Luke's and the Elk's Rehabilitation Hospital, the forum will allow the public to hear the latest in research and ask questions of scientists, researchers and doctors.
The forum is taking place in Sun Valley but will be streamed live, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, in the Sawtooth Room, Elk's Rehabilitation Hospital, 600 N. Robbins Road in Boise.
Space is limited: To RSVP to the Breast Cancer Research Update Open Forum, visit www.expeditioninspiration.org, and click on "Keep Abreast With EI" at the bottom of the page. The forum is also available for remote viewing on the website.
'HELPING WORKS' BLOG RETURNS
The blog will accompany this column at idahostatesman.com and will be a place to find more nonprofit news.
Anna Webb: 377-6431
