Feeling a bit of sticker shock when shopping for garden seeds at the garden centre or when perusing seed catalogues? As with most things we purchase these days, the price of seeds just keeps growing. But there is an option and it’s free. Many libraries have created seed libraries that provide seeds free of charge. In a sense, seeds are being “borrowed” for the growing season and hopefully will be “returned” before the next season.

The Mississippi Mills Library advises that:

Why save seeds? Among many reasons, seeds harvested locally are conditioned to our climate and soil conditions, which results in more resilient future crops. Seeds are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. You may borrow as many seeds you need, but please be mindful to leave seeds for others. The seed collection may be browsed in-person at both branches.

The first seed library was created in 1975 in Essex in the United Kingdom. The first seed library to be established in a public library in America was at the Gardiner Public Library in Gardiner, New York. Since then, the number of seed libraries has grown to over 450 across the globe, with most being established in the United States. A seed library is distinguished from a seedbank in that the main purpose is not to store or hold germplasm or seeds against possible destruction, but to disseminate them to the public, thus preserving the shared plant varieties through propagation and further sharing of seed.

Seed libraries can maintain their collections through donations from members or by receiving donations from companies, either monetarily or through donations of seeds themselves.

Saving Seeds

While “lending” is straightforward, “returning” or re-depositing seeds presents a challenge, since the new seeds are not necessarily well-described, and may be inadvertent hybrids. Some libraries do not accept returns or unsolicited donations to ensure quality control. Other libraries ask that borrowers return seeds if possible but there is no penalty for not doing so, and they will not accept hybrid or GMO seeds.

Seed saving can be complicated and is something that I have only attempted on a limited scale. Here’s what I have found:

Many seeds are viable for 3 or 4 years or more. Some examples are squash and other vining plants and brassicas such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. On the other hand, corn, onions, parsley and parsnip seeds are generally viable for one year only.

I recommend attending workshops or doing some research. Consider encouraging library staff to set up workshops.

Speaking of Libraries…

What is going on in our libraries? I remember libraries from my youth as very quiet places where you would be shushed if you made any noise. Other than reading, the only other activity might be a children’s story hour. Seed libraries are only the tip of the iceberg, indicating that a lot is going on quietly below the surface these days.

Libraries have become very important community hubs. Recent visits to my local library in Almonte revealed a veritable whirlwind of activity. One might see parents and children assembling a jigsaw puzzle, a puzzled senior getting computer advice from a tech tutor, a couple of serious folk playing chess, an unhoused youth picking up a few items from the food cupboard, a group of men playing board games, 3-D printer enthusiasts picking up pointers, Spanish and French conversation groups, as well as regular travelogues, films, courses and lectures.

In addition to the myriad activities going on, there are scores of items that may be borrowed from the library, some of which I found somewhat surprising. These include snowshoes, puzzles, movies and videos, audio players, violins, guitars, ukeleles, radon testing kits, Chromebooks, disk golf sets, Ontario Parks vehicle permits, an Epson Projector, knit kits, museum passes, LEGO Robotics, and a Thermal Imaging camera.

Heck, I believe that it’s still even possible to borrow books from the library!