Garden tool swaps
What to bring
Items to bring
- Garden and yard tools (shovels, trowels, rakes, pitchforks, hoses, hose reels, etc.)
- Pots and planters (wood, terracotta, decorative plastic) - free of any soil or dirt
- Potting soil/mix (unused, bagged)
- Gardening and plant books
- Garden art and décor
- Bird houses and feeders (unused or sanitized)
Not accepted
- Chemicals of any kind (fertilizers, pesticides, weed killer, bug killers, etc.)
- Mower or power tools
- Broken items
- Items too large to carry
- Used soil from your yard or garden (empty any soil from pots before bringing them to the swap)
Remaining swap dates
Saturday, May 2
More information
Folwell Park
Host
Folwell Neighborhood Association
Location
1615 Dowling Ave N
Time of event
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
More information
Kenwood Community Center
Host
Lowry Hill, Cedar-Isles-Dean, Kenwood, and East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Associations
Location
2101 W Franklin Ave
Time of event
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
More information
Armatage Park
Host
Armatage Neighborhood Association
Location
2500 W 57th St
Time of event
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
More information
Lake Hiawatha
Host
Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association
Location
2701 44th St E
Time of event
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
More information
Chergosky Park
Host
Prospect Park Garden Club
Location
Chergosky Park (201 Seymour Ave SE)
Time of event
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
More information
Logan Park
Host
Logan Park Neighborhood Association
Location
690 13th Ave NE
Time of event
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
More information
Waite Park Community Garden
Host
Waite Park Community Garden
Location
3601 Lincoln St NE
Time of event
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 16
More information
Swap is located in the back parking lot at MLK Park.
Host
Kingfield Neighborhood
Location
4055 Nicollet Ave
Time of event
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 6
More information
Painter Park
Host
Lyndale Neighborhood Association
Location
620 34th St W
Time of event
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
More details
Sanitizing guidelines
Sanitizing tools
Sanitizing tools helps prevent the spread of invasive species like jumping worm and other plant diseases.
- Wash items with hot water and soap or detergent to remove grease, grime, and potentially contaminated soil.
- Make 10% bleach solution. You can make this solution by mixing one part bleach with 9 parts of water in a container.
- NOTE: never mix bleach with anything other than water or laundry detergent. Toxic gases may be generated.
- Dip, douse, or spray tools with 10% bleach solution to kill fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
- Let the item air dry.
Sanitizing bird feeders, houses or baths
It is recommended to clean bird feeders, houses or baths once a month to prevent the spread of diseases.
- Wash your feeder or bath thoroughly with hot soapy water to remove any dirt and debris that are on or in the feeder, house or bath.
- Once clean, the feeder or bath should be disinfected in a diluted bleach solution. A 1:32 (1/2 a cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) mix is adequate if you have sufficiently removed all the organic debris before disinfecting.
- NOTE: Bleach dilution should be made fresh each time as bleach rapidly degrades and loses efficacy within 24 hours of mixing.
- Allow the feeder or bath to soak in (or stay wet with) the bleach solution for 10 minutes.
- Rinse well and allow to completely dry before using/refilling.
Community partners
2025 swap summary
- Nine locations in every section of the City
- Over 500 attendees
- Over 2,400 items brought
- Over 75% of items were taken during event
Backyard composting workshop
Hennepin County is holding several free backyard composting workshops this spring.
Sign up for one of the workshops to learn
- how to set up your compost pile
- what materials you can compost
- how to get the mix right
Online workshops
- Friday, May 8 (12 - 1 p.m.) Virtual on Teams. Register
- Tuesday, May 19 (7 - 8 p.m.) Virtual on Teams. Register
In-person classes
Past swap events
Saturday, April 11
More information
Garden Art Fling event. Swap includes seeds, seedlings, small garden tools.
Host
Art to Change the World
Location
Flux Arts Building
Time of event
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 18
More information
Earth Day cleanup event happening at the same time.
Host
Elliot Park Neighborhood Association
Location
Elliot Park
Time of event
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Contact us
Phone
Address
Eastside Maintenance Facility
2635 University Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Office hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday
This building is closed to the public.