Twin Cities Garden Tool Swap Events

Check out the upcoming garden tool swaps taking place around the Twin Cities – a chance to find the perfect tool!

Not sure about you, but each year I have high hopes for our garden. I would love to have green peppers, but it seems like our garden is only able to give us tomatoes.

Last fall, I added an area of native grass and native flowers. My Dad joked that they should be called weeds instead! Either way, I was excited to see butterflies and insects coming around to the area. This year I’m eager to add to that area with some seeds from a friend, and I am determined to make it more native than weeds.

Then there are the tools. Each spring I look at my tools and think I need to upgrade and find the perfect shovel. We have a bit of an odd collection of tools and we just kind of make do, but wouldn’t it be nice to add or trade without spending an arm and a leg?

I would love a garden that has an abundance of colorful vegetables; however, it really is all about the tools to get the garden going, isn’t it? One of my favorite small garden spades was left in the dirt too long and is now a bit rusty (but it’s still my favorite).

Twin Cities Garden Tool Swap Events

Here are some resources for finding free garden tools at various swap events in the Twin Cities. At many of these events, you may bring your own items to give to others, so feel free to clear out your gardening shed to make room for some new-to-you tools!

Burnsville

Native Plant Market at Nicollet Commons Park
Saturday, May 17 from 9 am – 12 pm

Check out the Native Plant Market! Native wildflowers, ferns and grasses will be for sale from multiple vendors. Enhance your garden and help provide food for pollinators! While picking out new flowers and grasses at Burnsville’s Native Plant Market, stop by our Garden Tool Swap to trade your gently used tools and lawn decorations for new ones.

Chanhassen

Garden Tool Swap at Chanhassen Recreation Center
Saturday, April 26 from 10 am – 12 pm

As you clean out your storage this spring, hang on to unneeded yard tools and gardening items and bring them to the Tool Swap. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned green thumb, all are welcome at this event. This FREE event allows gardeners and yard owners to exchange tools, equipment and materials.

All items are intended to be given and taken freely. Tools and items are not for sale. You do not need to bring items to participate. You can drop off your usable items and leave. You do not need to stay on-site for the entire event.

Items to bring: garden/yard tools (shovels, rakes, hoses, pitchforks, etc.), garden art and décor, bird houses and feeders, pots and planters (no used soil), potting soil and mix (unused, bagged), gardening and plant books.

Eagan

Garden Tool Swap at Trapp Farm Park
Saturday, April 19 from 1 – 4 pm

Bring gently used items such as shovels, rakes, hoses, birdfeeders, ceramic pots, and much more to trade with neighbors and refresh your garden’s look. Items must be in good, usable condition. Broken items and plastic planter pots will not be accepted. Swaps are open to everyone. No purchases are necessary. Bring what you can, and take what you’d like!

Forest Lake

Garden Tool Swap at North Environmental Center
Wednesday, May 7 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm

Donations will be accepted at the North Environmental Center through May 3. Items accepted: hand tools, shovels, rakes, gloves (must be clean), decorative pots and planters (must be free of any soil or dirt), garden art and décor, bird houses and feeders.

The swap is free and open to everyone. Donations are not required to get items during the event. Limit of three items can be taken per person. Items remaining after the event will be donated locally.

Lakeville

Annual Watershed Cleanup Day at Lakeville Maintenance Facility
Saturday, April 26 from 9 am – 12 pm

Celebrate Earth Day by visiting Lakeville’s Annual Watershed Cleanup Day! Find out what’s happening in your area to preserve our environment and learn from local organizations. While you’re there, bring unused garden tools in good condition, and take a few home!

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Garden Tool Swaps are planned by neighborhood over three dates in May. It’s an opportunity to swap our your unused yard tools and gardening items including gardening books, garden art and decor, pots and planters and bird houses and feeders (please sanitize first) and look for others you could use. Any unclaimed items will be posted on neighborhood Buy Nothing groups after the event is over. Check their listing here for the date and time for each neighborhood.

Woodbury

Garden Tool Swap at South Environmental Center
Wednesday, May 7 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm

Donations will be accepted at the South Environmental Center through May 3. Items accepted: hand tools, shovels, rakes, gloves (must be clean), decorative pots and planters (must be free of any soil or dirt), garden art and décor, bird houses and feeders.

The swap is free and open to everyone. Donations are not required to get items during the event. Limit of three items can be taken per person. Items remaining after the event will be donated locally.