Invite friends and family to come over and get their hands dirty.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—This winter was rough for people in many parts of the country. So why not find a healthy excuse to celebrate spring's arrival and throw a seed-starting party? Rounding up neighbors, family, and friends for a get-together is a great way to jump-start your home vegetable garden this season, plus, it's just really fun to gather people of different ages and expertise levels to share tips and garden together, even if it's only indoors for now.

THE DETAILS: Often, vegetable garden seed packets contain way too many seeds for the average homeowner's growing needs. And there's just something kind of sad about folding up the half-used pouch and tucking it away, sometimes to be forgotten. (Some seeds can be used the following seasons if stored properly, but others, such as onions, are unreliable if you don't use them the year you buy them.)

It's also important to understand which crops are best to start indoors (and which prefer direct-sowing outdoors, like radishes, peas, and green beans.) The first step is figuring out your area's last frost date, and then planning your party and plantings accordingly.

WHAT IT MEANS: Growing your own food has multiple benefits, most importantly that you know what's going in and on your food. (Read Rodale CEO Maria Rodale's new book, Organic Manifesto, for more on the horrors of the food industry, and how to protect yourself.) Plus, if you grow food you like, you're more likely to cook at home, which studies show keeps families healthier. Adding a social component by throwing a seed-starting party also has its benefits: New research has found having meaningful conversations with people (versus small talk) makes them happier. Other scientists have found that happiness is contagious! So you can sow some seeds of gladness among your friends while you're starting your lettuce.

Here's what you need to know about throwing a seed-starting party.

1. Schedule it.
In many parts of the country, now is the time to start garden favorites like tomatoes and peppers. And technology makes it easier than ever to set up a social event like a seed-starting party. The first step is to figure out your area's last frost date, so you can time your party to produce seedlings ready to transplant outdoors when the weather's right.

Find out which seeds to start by using Organic Gardening magazine's online Know When to Sow and Seed-Starting Chart tools. Send out good old-fashioned invites in the mail, call friends, or use email, texts, or online tools like Evite. You can even tap into Facebook to plan your event and track RSVPs.

2. Coordinate.
Once you know who's coming to the party, it's time to delegate. Think of it as like a potluck dinner, where everyone brings something to share. (You can ask guests to bring food, too, by the way.) Here's a list of the things you'll need for a seed-starting party:

• Seeds—Coordinate with guests to make sure no two guests bring the same vegetable or variety, and make sure the seed selection fits the seed-starting date of the party. For instance, in Pennsylvania, you wouldn't want to start onions in April; they're generally started indoors in February. But now is a great time to start tomatoes and peppers indoors. Try to find organic seeds, which are readily available in certain local feed mills, or online from places like Johnny's Selected Seeds, Fedco, and Seeds of Change. Planting some heirloom seeds can also ensure great taste and nutrient-dense produce while preserving traditional varieties.

Read on to find out what other materials you'll need for a seed-starting party.