Seed Library

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Seed Library Events

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Seed Donation Highlight: Lake Mac Monsters

This year, Kathleen Schenck and Mike Tuccini, of Holland, donated a very special tomato seed that they developed themselves.

Gardening Story: Peppers in Texas

It's always exciting to see where our seeds end up!

Tough Gardening Questions? Ask the MSU Extension.

Solve tricky gardening conundrums with Michigan State's Q&A tool!

Seed Library Donations

Both the Main Library and the North Branch have donation envelopes and a seed donation box located near the seed library catalog. Please fill out the donation form on the outside of the envelope as thoroughly as you can before putting your seeds inside and dropping it off inside the donation box. You can also print off the form and attach it to your donation.

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Donation Form

Gardening Materials

Garden Materials

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Seed Library Resources

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Seed Library Blogs

Seed Saving for Those Worried About Doing it Wrong

Curious about the seed library, but hesitant to try it because you're a newbie? Read these tips to increase your confidence!

The Big List of Online Gardening Tips

A long list of blogs, YouTube channels, and seed saving websites to help you with your gardening questions!

Seed Library FAQs

  • The 2023 season begins Wednesday, March 1.

  • Seed libraries are a lot like other kinds of libraries! Their main purpose is to share or lend seeds to a community. Seeds libraries encourage gardeners to save quality seeds that are suitable for the local growing area. Successful seed libraries can even preserve rare or heirloom seeds from the area as well. 

  • During the growing season, visit our repurposed card catalog (at either location) and select the seeds you’d like to try growing. There is no need to check out the seeds like you would with other library materials. We do ask that you not take more than you are willing to plant and that you consider saving some seeds to “return” to the seed library for others to “borrow” next year.

  • We have many print materials available at the library with information about seed saving! We have also compiled information online from websites we like, if you prefer online sources.

  • Both the Main Library and the North Branch have donation envelopes and a seed donation box located near the seed library catalog. Please fill out the donation form on the outside of the envelope as thoroughly as you can before dropping it off inside the donation box. If your donation is too large to fit through the slot, please speak to a staff member at the Information Desk.

    Please thresh your seeds. Processing donations takes a lot of staff time, which can be saved if your donations are ready-to-plant and not still inside pods, fluff, wet, etc. 

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