What? Free seeds? But how?
You heard right. Keep reading…
After what feels like months with no sunshine, we are finally cresting into some springtime. (And not a moment too soon.) Daffodils are blooming, the birds are going crazy, and the soggy ground is beginning to dry out. Aaaaah.
If you’re anything like me though, all of a sudden it feels like everything garden oriented needs to happen NOW. Who cares if it’s still icy in the morning? The sun is telling me to get going and make it happen. (This is Amanda by the way- we all know Edy is already going for the season!)
Let’s all just take a breath and sink into the understanding that this race has just begun. There’s a long, sunny season ahead and no need to go crazy…yet. It helps me to remember that the average frost date for my area is at least 6 weeks away if not more. So, it’s a great time to get seeds started, to clean out old garden beds and to plant things like peas and lettuces and to just spend time outside luxuriating in the change of seasons.
And it’s the perfect time to get all your seeds! As you know, plants are so giving and abundant- from one seed can come hundreds, even thousands of new seeds and this miracle reminds us to be generous.
Luckily in our community, there are some exciting ways to gather and swap seeds, without commerce involved.
This weekend (Saturday the 16th) there’s a seed swap happening at the Banner Guild. Bring any extra seeds you have to share. If you don’t have any seeds- that’s fine, bring some envelopes to put your seeds in and a good attitude. You can also bring plant cuttings, Kombucha SCOBY’s, compost tea…whatever you want to share garden and food related!
The next AMAZING resource we have is the New Community Seed Library at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City! Here is all you need to know:
“It is just past the DVDs next to the YA fiction. The seeds for people to take are in the card catalog and there is a donation box underneath for people to leave all of the seed they want to donate or return. There is a membership/borrow folder at the circulation desk. Basically the rules of the seed library are as follows:
Free Membership ~ The first time you borrow from the seed library, we ask that you fill out a general membership form and place it in the “Membership/Borrow ” folder at the circulation desk. The only thing to fill out any time after that is a small slip with your name and the name of the seeds you borrowed on that day (on the back of your membership form).
Take Home Seeds!
- Assuming you’ve already filled out a membership form, find the seeds in the drawers that you’d like to borrow. Take the main seed packet from the drawer and a small envelope (in the “Empty Envelopes” drawer in the catalogue) and write the name (ex: Virginia Pickling Cucumber), days to maturity, and other information that will help you grow the variety.
- From the main seed packet, pour a small amount of seed into your hand and then transfer it to the small envelope that you wrote the information on.
- Seal your envelope and fold down the top of the original seed packet. Place the original seed packet back into the drawer that you pulled it from.
- Head over to the circulation desk and fill out the small “Borrow Slip” with your name and the seed variety’s name and put it back into the Membership/Borrow folder.
- Take your seeds home, plant them & enjoy!
How to Return Seeds
During the beginning stages of The Nevada County Community Seed Library, we are interested in getting seeds into your hands.
As plants fade and seeds show up in the garden, we’ll have several discussions on seed-saving including which ones are the easiest to save and how to collect seeds from plants that haven’t cross-pollinated.
When we do receive seeds from the public, it will be in a special box — not directly back into the place where gardeners are actively borrowing seed.
It may seem like a tedious process, but it’s the best way to ensure that the seeds going out to the public are “pure” as far as seed variety.”
If you have any further questions, contact:
Megan Lloyd
Adult Services Librarian
Madelyn Helling Library
(530) 470-2677 | Megan.Lloyd@co.nevada.ca.us