Why save seeds?
If we look back about 100 years, our food crops contained over 1500 plant types. Today there are fewer than 50, the bulk of which are corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice. The commercial seeds we see today are created for shelf-life and appearance, rather than taste. Most of these seeds are hybrid varieties that are made by artificially crossing two very different plants. You can be part of a community effort to conserve precious seed varieties by signing them out, growing, harvesting, and passing them on to other gardeners.
Like a traditional library, a seed library lends seeds to its patrons free of charge, but with a goal to create greener spaces, encourage people to grow their own food, and promote local seed diversity. Thanks to a generous donation by West Coast Seeds, we are able to launch a seed library to serve our community.
The seed library is stocked annually in March. Check back for more specific details, or visit the
seed library on the main floor of the library.
We are proud to support West Coast Seed's Fundraiser for Ukraine by offering a dozen varieties of sunflowers.
![10,000+ Sunflower Images & Pictures [HD]](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/08/28/23/24/sunflower-1627193__340.jpg)
How does it work:
"Borrowing" from the Seed Library is free and easy to use, and open to all members of the public. Click here to learn more about how to check out seeds.
The Seed Library operates on the honour system and patrons are encouraged to return seeds at the end of the growing season to keep the library well stocked. For non-expert seed savers, we recommend starting with beans, lettuce, peas, and tomato seeds.
If you are unable to save your own seeds, please consider donating a packet or two of commercially grown, open pollinated seeds at the end of the season. Plus, you get this nifty seed donor pin for donating seeds! (Ask for the pin when you donate seeds to the service desk.)
Just a few of the resources to help get you started:
Small-Space Vegetable Gardens
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Backyard Bounty - 2nd Edition
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The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds
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Apartment Gardening
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Never Out of Season
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