Growing a new library, from seed

Botany new seeds lately? There’s no more need to buy seeds, as the North Branch and Southworth libraries have started their first seed libraries. 

The seed library sprouted from an idea planted by the community during their Strategic Plan development, where members of the community requested a seed library. The library started planning, and it began with a $50 donation from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. 

“I think anytime you can give something away for free, it’s important to the community,” said Dina St. Pierre, the library director, “So we’d like to think that we’re able to offer free seeds for people who are maybe beginner gardeners, this will give them a chance to try out gardening.”

Caryn Gagner, the information services librarian, used this donation to buy seeds to start the library. 

“I’m hoping that this will help people get out and move a little more,” she said. “Maybe they’ll learn something.”

So far, Gagner has focused on getting mostly vegetables and other edible plants, such as lettuce, chives, chamomile and basil, but she has also gotten some bee balm plants, which she said have been “incredibly popular,” and is planning  to get more flower seeds.

She did try to get a colorful variety, with blue basil, chive with purple flowers and chamomile with white and yellow flowers. 

The seed library will also feature mainly native species, with invasive plants like mint, morning glory and lily of the valley being excluded. 

Each bag contains about six seeds, and Gagner asks that people try and limit themselves to a bag or two so that everyone has an opportunity to garden.

A detailed description of the plants and what category of seed they are are also included in the bags.

There are two types of seed libraries in the program: the main seed library where seeds come from commercial companies and a saved seed library that uses seeds harvested by members of the community from their own gardens.

This saved seed library is only available at the Southworth Library, and while there isn’t a guarantee they will succeed, the plants have evolved to grow in the area. 

“Seeds can basically be grown anywhere,” said Gagner. 

She added, “The seeds have knowledge of the climate and the atmosphere and pollutions.”

All people who donate seeds fill out a history form so that those who take the seeds know how and where past plants grew. 

So far the library has received marigolds and sunflowers from a nearby gardener, which are available for guests to take. 

The library recently received a large donation of over 40 variations of seeds from the Seed Savers Exchange. Gagner was happy to say that only two seed varieties were repeated from when the library was started. 

There is also the Library of Things, where people can borrow gardening materials such as a tool set and a kneeling pad. 

“It’s not just books at your local library anymore,” said St. Pierre. 

Gager and St. Pierre plan to have more gardening focused events, such as a Wildflower Seed Bomb Workshop on Saturday, March 28th at 10 a.m. and a pot painting workshop in May. 

“I think gardening is important for your mental health, anything that you outside, get your hands dirty or sitting on the grass and playing and sun,” said Gagner. “That’s all just really good for your mental health."