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What could be greener than exchanging green, living plants? Earlier this year Canadian gardener Nicolas Cadilhac started PlantCatching, a project created to reduce gardening waste, while connecting gardeners in both their local and global communities. In Cadilhac’s local Quebec area the concept has already taken root – over 330 donations have occurred in the Quebec province alone. Cadilhac is now working to expand the project’s scope to empower gardeners and farmers worldwide to share their excess materials and eliminate waste. PlantCatching is designed to provide gardeners the opportunity to find new plants for their garden, give away excess plants and network with like-minded horticulturists.
How does it work?
Find a plant locally: Members can search this website, indicating the desired address. The PlantCatching site will indicate all active plant donations within 1.5km (or greater if nothing is available) and users can then retrieve the sought after plant. Users read the donor comments regarding the plant and click a button indicating that the plant is no longer available to others. If you’re a passerby and discover a public donation at the edge of a property, simply read the label and decide whether to take the plant.
Request a plant: Create a user account on PlantCatching and you will be able to add requests. You can list plants you’d like to acquire, supplies you need, or the new vegetable variety you wish to try. When a user makes a search on the map in your neighborhood, he will see the existing local demand and may be tempted to donate some of the requested plants.
Gardening stuff you can give:
  • a living plant in earth
  • a seed package
  • a bag of bulbs
  • fruits and vegetables from your own production
  • gardening materials like soil, compost, rocks, containers …
Three modes of giving:
  • Public mode: You leave your donated plant in front of your home or at an authorized public space and attach a special label printed from the website.
  • Semi-private mode: When a plant is released, or offered, members consult a map on the website to find the plant’s location. A passersby cannot see the plant and cannot take it. Once you’ve discovered a plant near in your local area just follow the instructions left by the donor.
  • Private mode: Members consult a map on the PlantCatcher site to discover plants and to contact a donor to arrange a pick up. This method of donation is similar to traditional ads but can be useful, for example, if two people are looking to divide a plant and minimize its suffering.
PlantCatching is a global service that can be used by communities all around the world. Want to start a PlantCatcher network in your community? You can get free flyers and other help from