FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Seed and Scion Exchange, hosted by the Farmington Grange and the Farmington Seed Savers Group, will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Farmington Grange Hall, Bridge Street, West Farmington.

The event overlaps the Saturday Farmers Market and there is no charge to participate.

Dave Fuller, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, Franklin County Office, will give a class on apple tree cleft grafting at 11:30 a.m. downstairs.  Will Bonsall, Scatterseed Project, will discuss propagation of woody cuttings at about 12:15 p.m.

Those who have fruit trees and would like to add more varieties on the same trees may graft on scions in the spring. Contact Fuller on how to harvest scion wood. Grafting is the only way to save old fruit varieties and keep them from becoming extinct.

Those who plan to bring scion wood should keep it dormant by keeping it cold (and moist) until ready for grafting. Label bunches of scions varieties when transporting to and from the exchange.

Anyone planning to bring seeds to share should label them clearly. Seeds can be leftover (surplus packets) or “saved” heirloom seeds to share.

All are welcome. For more information on the Seed and Scion Exchange, call Bonnie Clark, 778-6637.

Farmington Seed Savers Group is a local group of gardeners and small farmers whose focus is education and preserving vegetable varieties suited to Western Maine.