Native seed collections are a great edition to any seed library. Perhaps, your collection might even be exclusively natives. Below are some examples of libraries that have native seed collections or may be exclusively native seeds.
Presentation by Danielle Carlock; Founder, Maricopa Native Seed Library, Maricopa Community Colleges, Maricopa County, AZ, USA at the 10th Annual Seed Library Summit, April 17, 2021.
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Presentation by Danielle Carlock, Founder, Maricopa Native Seed Library, Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Shawnita Onwuma, Branch Manager, County of SLO Public Libraries, Santa Margarita, California, USA, 2023.
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Featured Native Seed Libraries
Douglas College, Institute of Urban Ecology (IUE)
New Westminster, BC, Canada
Their seeds are harvested from their Sol (Sustainability, Outreach & Learning) Garden located at their Coquitlam campus. The Sol Garden specializes in providing urban gardeners with the tools and resources they need to make their home gardens more sustainable! They have pollinator friendly flowers, native, noninvasive species, drought tolerant plants, wildlife friendly habitat, and a sacred Indigenous medicinal garden! To prevent the spread of invasive species they can only supply seeds to people living within the lower mainland of BC (Hope-Vancouver). Please note, seeds are only released seasonally based on their sowing time. Check out their resources:
They do not have a physical library space. Seed requests are placed via email ([email protected]) and they mail seeds out with Canada post. Again, to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species they can only mail seeds to people living in the lower mainland of BC (Hope-Vancouver).
New Westminster, BC, Canada
Their seeds are harvested from their Sol (Sustainability, Outreach & Learning) Garden located at their Coquitlam campus. The Sol Garden specializes in providing urban gardeners with the tools and resources they need to make their home gardens more sustainable! They have pollinator friendly flowers, native, noninvasive species, drought tolerant plants, wildlife friendly habitat, and a sacred Indigenous medicinal garden! To prevent the spread of invasive species they can only supply seeds to people living within the lower mainland of BC (Hope-Vancouver). Please note, seeds are only released seasonally based on their sowing time. Check out their resources:
- Catalogue: A list of all the seeds they carry with growing and sowing conditions plus links to external resources
- Plant Specific Seed Saving Videos: Videos that show people how to harvest and clean their own seeds at home
They do not have a physical library space. Seed requests are placed via email ([email protected]) and they mail seeds out with Canada post. Again, to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species they can only mail seeds to people living in the lower mainland of BC (Hope-Vancouver).
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library
Grainothèque de fleurs sauvages d'Ottawa Ottawa, Canada Website 🌐 This is a must visit website for any group wanting to open a native seed library. Check out their How to start a native seed library page. |
Regional Native Seed Library Networks
Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
Richmond, CA, USA
These resources are California (& Western United States) specific, but it is an amazing template of what two dedicated volunteers who are passionate about natives can create. The packets even had QR codes that take you to a webpage with additional plant information! (Sadly the company that the QR codes linked to went out of business. Otherwise, we would have shared those seed packets with you.)
How to Use the Library
Richmond, CA, USA
These resources are California (& Western United States) specific, but it is an amazing template of what two dedicated volunteers who are passionate about natives can create. The packets even had QR codes that take you to a webpage with additional plant information! (Sadly the company that the QR codes linked to went out of business. Otherwise, we would have shared those seed packets with you.)
How to Use the Library
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