2026 Winter Abundance Gathering
SEED, SCION & CUTTING EXCHANGE WITH HANDS-ON FRUIT TREE GRAFTING
SATURDAY March 14, 2026
from 10AM to 3PM RAIN OR SHINE!
Free classes and AND LIVE GRAFTING DEMOS ALL DAY
how to grow your own food
and how to save seeds of all kinds of food plants
REGISTRATION IS FREE AND HELPS US PLAN FOR HOW MANY WILL ATTEND.
Bring labeled seeds, scions, cuttings and plants to share.
🌿This year’s event will be held
at the AV Grange in Philo, CA🌿
The Boon-Mex truck will be there with hot/cold beverages, breakfast items, and lunch selections for sale.
An exciting new feature this year!
Tim Bates is offering to bring free scions from The Apple Farm.
You can reserve a selection and pick it up at the March 14 event.
Read Tim’s guidelines to learn how to order. Here is the list of available scion wood.
Ongoing live Grafting demonstrations
Good for all levels. Watch. Observe. Ask questions.
Presentations
10:15-11:45
Basic Grafting with David Ulmer
This crash course on making your own trees & vines from scions, rootstocks, cuttings, seeds. Basics of scion selection, grafting & budding, and rootstocks.
David has a 26 year old big backyard orchard with 225 fruit trees with 450 varieties. Currently the Biomanager of the Redwood Empire California Rare Fruit Growers and formerly the Chair. He has been giving grafting clinics and talks for over 17 years.
12:00 -1:00
Basic Seed Saving with Matt Drewno
Matt is VP of Ecology Action, Founder of Victory Gardens for Peace, and Director of Biointensive Garden Initiatives in Fort Bragg and Stanford Ranch Inn Gardens, Mendocino, CA. Matt is an inspired leader for conscientious care of our planet’s soil, while being a missionary of biointensive gardening for numerous developed and developing countries, indigenous tribes, interns, and fellow gardeners around the world. He is forthright, impassioned, and committed to making a transformative planetary difference.
1:00 - 2:00
Farm Talk and Round Table with Camila Guerrero and Josh DeVries: Dry Farming and Seed Adaptation
Learn how saving seeds from dry farmed plants in fungal-dominant soil creates resilient plants adapted to your local conditions.
Camila will teach simple agroecology practices that build resilience and seed sovereignty in your own garden. 20-minute presentation followed by discussion.
Camila is a Chilean researcher who came to Mendocino to study Grow Biointensive at Stanford Inn by the Sea, under the guidance of Ecology Action. She began her academic journey in civil engineering (Chile) and later specialized in Climate Change (South Korea). These diverse experiences eventually led her to become an agroecology teacher and researcher, utilizing resiliency strategies to prepare for the challenges of the changing climate. Camila focuses on adapting seeds and practicing dry farming to ensure sustainable agricultural practices for the future.
What to expect
-
You can purchase fruit tree rootstocks cheaply at the event and then graft your own trees from the free scions. A list of the available rootstocks will be posted on this website on March 13. After they are posted, you can purchase them online and pick them up at the event. Supplies will be limited.
-
Scion Exchange: Free scions will be available all day, with local experts on hand. Bring labeled scions of your favorite fruit trees – especially the gems that are proven here, in our area.
Important: Please see the section below for detailed instruction on how to collect scion wood and for a list of what to bring (and what not to bring!).
-
Seed Exchange: Seeds from local growers with local seed savers on site. Many experts to answer questions! Bring your own saved and labeled seeds to share. Glass jars are good. We supply free seed envelopes. You do not need to bring anything to share in the abundance!
-
Plant share: Everyone is welcome to use our venue to give away or swap plants. Due to Sudden Oak Death and other root pathogens, please minimize the attached native soil. Try to use soilless potting mixes if possible, or bring plants bare root, gently washing native soil off dormant plants. Moist pine wood shavings (sold in bags as animal bedding) are best for packing roots and scions. Wet newspaper also works short term.
Making the Best of the Scion Exchange
The following information is from our friends at The Golden Gate Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers.
Their site can be found here: https://golden-gate.crfg.org/scionex.htm
WHAT TO BRING
Scion wish list (based on fruit tastings, research, your chill-hours, pollination, and ability to root or compatibility with rootstocks for grafting)
Gallon zip-top plastic bags to put your scions in so they stay fresh, (include your name on it in case you lay it down and forget)
Painters or masking tape to label your scions
Permanent Marker to write on your tape
Notebook & pen to take notes
A handled tote to carry them all in (it’s a good idea to label your tote with your name and phone number)
Scions and Plants to share from your home. Including divisions, tubers, bare-root plants, and seeds of unusual fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, and herbs.
Grafting Knives and Pruners
Cash, Credit or Debit card for all your purchases (Root stock, seeds, food, vendor area)
What NOT to Bring:
NO Citrus or relatives (plants or scions/cuttings) Find out why.
NO potted fig plants, (cuttings are ok to bring)
NO Leaf-litter from all potted plants, and no excess soil from roots and tubers that you have dug up.
NO Old-Wood with fruit spurs (two years or older wood)
bring only the most recent tip growth that grew last year. See photoNO Non-Edible Plants
NO Current Patented Plant Varieties
Scion Exchange Essential Knowledge
• Your Master Guide: Making the Best of the CRFG Scion Exchange (pdf)
• Grafting Fruit Trees with Graham Stott (pdf)
• Grafting Dormant Deciduous Fruit Scions with Idell Weydemeyer (pdf)
• Photos & Diagrams for Grafting Fruit Trees with Graham Stott (pdf)
• How to Graft with Illustrations with Idell Weydemeyer (pdf)
• What is a Scion Exchange?
• How Harvest Scions for a Scion Exchange
• Labels to Print for the Scion bags you bring to the Exchange
• Watch Videos showing how to harvest and prepare scions for an Exchange
• How to Collect Scionwood with Photos
(Do not use paper towels for storage to avoid mold.)
The Winter Abundance Gathering is sponsored by Cloud Forest Institute and Anderson Valley Foodshed
If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact Donna at 707-684-0325.
If you are interested in vending at this event, please contact Alethea Patton at aletheapattondesign@gmail.com.
Please do not bring your dog.
