Memories of Summer: A TVP Zine Swap 2026

You know the ones. Bare feet on warm grass, the smell of a campfire, falling asleep in the backseat on the way home from somewhere. Road trips that took forever, swarms of mosquitoes, swimming until your fingers pruned, eating outside because why would you eat inside, smokey skies, berry picking. This July we're collecting those memories in zine form. Make us a zine about your favorite or not so favorite memories of summer.

How it works
You make 11 copies of your zine and mail them to us by July 1st (July is national zine month). One copy goes into The Verdancy Project's permanent library, and the other ten get bundled up and mailed back out to your fellow participants. You'll receive ten zines from makers around the world.

Zine Making Day
Not sure where to start? On June 7th from 11am to 1pm we're hosting a zine making day here at The Verdancy Project in Troutdale. You'll learn three different zine formats, have time to experiment, and spend time working alongside other makers. It's a great way to get your ideas going and meet the people you'll be swapping with. Can't make it in person? We'll have templates available so you can work through the formats on your own time.

The details
Participation is open to anyone, any age, anywhere in the world. Sign up deadline is June 7th. Zine submission deadline is July 1st. The fee is $20, which covers postage, materials, the zine making workshop, and the work of sorting, packaging, and mailing bundles across the country and beyond.

What you get
Ten handmade zines, your cover featured in our online gallery and on social media, and a short maker bio with a link back to your work posted on The Verdancy Project website, a two-hour in-person workshop and zine templates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a zine? A zine is a small, self-published booklet, think handmade magazine meets personal art project. They've been around since the 1970s and come in every possible form: poetry, photography, collage, illustration, field notes, personal essays, comics. There are no rules, which is kind of the whole point.

Does my zine have to be handmade? Nope. Handmade, digitally designed and printed at home, printed at a copy shop, all of it is welcome. What matters is that it fits the theme and that you make 11 copies.

Does it have to be something I make specifically for this swap? Not necessarily. If you have something you've already made that fits the Memories of Summer theme, you're welcome to submit it.

What size should my zine be? Anything up to 5x7 inches. Smaller is fine too.

Does it have to be black and white? Color or black and white, your call. Just keep in mind you'll need to reproduce 11 copies, so factor that into your process.

What about binding and format? Stapled, folded, sewn, accordion — whatever works for your zine. No requirements there.

Need some inspiration? Check out our Zine board on Pinterest

Is there an age limit? No age limit. If you want to make a zine, you're welcome here.

Do I have to live in the United States? Not at all — the swap is open to anyone anywhere in the world. Just be mindful of shipping times when sending your submission so it arrives by the July 1st deadline.

Can I collaborate with someone else on my zine? Yes, collaborations are welcome. Just keep in mind that you'll be sharing the ten zines you receive between you.

What if my zines are lost or damaged in the mail? We aren't able to take responsibility for what happens in transit, but if something goes wrong reach out and we'll do our best to make it right.

Why is there a fee? The $20 participation fee covers postage, packaging materials, and the admin work involved in running the swap — receiving submissions, sorting them into individual bundles, and mailing packages back out to participants here and around the world. It also includes the in-person zine making day on June 7th. When you break it down, you're only paying $2 per zine for ten handmade zines from makers around the world, plus a workshop, a gallery feature, and a backlink. We think that's a pretty good deal.