SwapDC, in collaboration with Grounded, hosted a “Plant Swap Lounge” on March 15, uniting seasoned plant parents and newcomers alike to trade and recycle their old houseplants and promoting a reconnection with the environment through fellowship, education and resource distribution.
The event was a moment for plant lovers and novices to come together. The organizations are working to bridge the gap between nature and urban Black and brown communities who often lack access to green space and face environmental injustices.
Held at Grounded, a plant shop, cafe and wellness studio located in Southeast D.C., the event included seed and plant swaps, pottery painting and educational discussions on best care practices for home plants and soil.
“I realized we’re over consuming everything and it’s killing our planet slowly,” said SwapDC founder Zsmeria Rayford. “I wanted to do something about that, especially involving more Black and brown people in the environmental scene.”
Rayford greeted guests at the door, walking them through the available selection of seed packets and plants, which ranged from baby succulents to propagated stem and leaf cuttings.
“We had a brief talk about our relationship to plants and plant life in general and gardening,” Rayford told The Informer. “With the increase of food prices, we’re trying to increase urban gardening, especially in the D.C. area for Black and brown people.”
Some guests brought plants to give away, others to trade and there were even attendees looking to start their collection from scratch.
Participant Kayla Daily said that, as someone who has been wanting to get into plants and planting, the event gave her a safe space to learn more without judgment. Although she didn’t have any plants of her own to bring, she appreciated the opportunity to observe.
“It builds that community that I think a lot of us are seeking in this time,” she said. “It’s important to learn how to be resourceful and grow our own food and grow our own plants to sustain our living and not be totally reliant on outer resources.”
The History Behind SwapDC: 10 Years of Reducing Waste Through Swaps
Rayford has always been on a mission to reduce waste.
“The consequences of consumerism on our environment are drastic. We want to encourage people but also teach people different ways to recycle,” said the SwapDC founder. “At the beginning, a lot of people thought recycling was so far from them, but every day we recycle. How many aunties’ houses do you go to where they have a whole drawer of plastic bags? We’ve always done this, we’re just bringing awareness and encouraging people to do a little more.”
Founded in 2015, SwapDC regularly hosts creative recycling events.
As an environmentally conscious creative, Rayford first began with clothing swaps to reduce textile waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 70% of clothing disposed of by Americans each year is sent to a landfill, as opposed to recycling.
Seeing the popularity of vintage and thrift shopping, Rayford started with clothes as a way to make a difference.
“Second-hand shopping has been on the rise, but we wanted to present it to people who don’t necessarily have the money,” she said. “That’s why we started free swaps.”
In a decade of work to address environmental injustice, SwapDC has expanded to swap events for books, vinyl records and plants, all aiming to limit over-consumption and provide a community space to repurpose unused goods.
Although this is SwapDC’s fourth year doing a plant swap, this was their first time holding it at Grounded, which, after starting as an online shop in 2020, opened its first brick-and-mortar location last year.
“I hope that [participants] learn more about reducing waste in general, learn more about SwapDC and Grounded,” Rayford told The Informer. “This beautiful space is Black-owned and on the South side, and I hope that they take away a plant or some seeds to grow at home.”
She emphasized the power of learning about planting, particularly for Black Americans.
“When you get closer to planting and growing your own things, you have the power in your hands,” Rayford told The Informer. “It shows you what you can do with the little you have. We have the resources we need, it’s just about applying that.”
African American Agricultural Roots, Reconnecting People to Nature
Although African Americans have an extensive history in agriculture, labor exploitation and restrictions on Black landownership in the century following slavery pushed many Black people into city centers. Segregation and other racial disparities have further limited their access to nature.
Janelle Peoples, who attended the event with her sons, called attention to African Americans’ spiritual connection to nature and emphasized the importance of educating Black communities on caring for plants.
“I think it’s really important because this is part of our ancestral being and it’s us reconnecting with Mother Earth, reconnecting to our spirits and it’s a healthy way to relieve stress and anxiety without using Western medicine,” said Peoples. “I already feel my anxieties lower and I’m gonna have a better day because of it.”
Many indigenous African religions are deeply rooted in connections to the natural world, viewing nature as sacred and spiritually powerful. They often recognize humans as a part of a vast community of plants, animals and other natural forces, according to Nikojo: Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Humanities, Law, Education and Social Sciences.
Peoples and her sons each painted plant pots, hers decorated with various colors of the evil eye symbol, which is believed to provide protection against negative thoughts and energies.
“I want all the protection and love and encouragement so our space at home is built around healthy energy,” she said.
Other attendees found value in being part of third-space community organizations like Grounded, which serve as social environments outside of home and work.
Kwame Edwards, a plant lover and Ward 8 resident, said he hopes to see more events like this in his area that are not just hosted in the community, but for the community.
“We all just like plants. It’s a nice thing and you get to meet new people, get to talk about things you’re interested in.” said Edwards. “More of them need to exist and they should be east of the river. I hope that that east of the river expansion happens and moves up MLK without sacrificing who’s been here.”
Mignon Hemsley, co-founder, CEO and creative director of Grounded, said that the company’s collaboration with SwapDC was a step in strengthening their community and that she hopes to make environmental spaces more accessible for typically underserved groups. She imagines a space where people can walk, bike and transit to events like Saturday’s swap.
“Our whole mission is to reconnect people to nature, show them how having plants in your space is good for your wellness and she’s all about sustainability,” said Hemsley. “It was a perfect match to bring people out and be able to share their plants they’ve been growing with a new person or with someone they know. The act of giving and receiving nature is just beautiful.”
Hemsley said that, in addition to connecting community members with nature, events like Plant Swap Longue help bring together people with shared interests and values.
“Everyone in here has something that they’re like-minded with, whether it’s nature or coffee or just being in a space where there’s bio-physical design,” said Hemsley. “Being able to know you’re in a room with so many like-minded people, that’s a perfect chance to create a community.”
Rayford said she hopes to do more Plant Swap Longues across the city to help people connect with the earth and one another.
“When you feel connected to the land around you, you can better connect to the people around you. Right now, especially during this unpredictable time, it helps you to not feel so lonely, and I think that sense of belonging is imperative to our health,” said Rayford. “It helps you to better analyze your connection to this planet and the people around you.”