Caribou Public Library Seed Library - Keeping Seeds in the Hands of the People
Free Seeds and MORE!
All Caribou Public Seed Library members may: - get free seeds - share seeds with other members - participate in workshops on: - seed harvesting - seed storing (saving) - seed testing (germination) - soil preparation - N Maine hardy varieties - pests and diseases |
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Participate as:
A Member Seed Recipient: - Research and decide on the plant varieties that you need for your garden(s) - Sign Out one packet per variety per family - Grow your plants AND - Save seeds for your own use next season A Member Seed Donor: - Save seeds from your plants and drop them off at the Library; Please, include variety and growth information - Share your gardening experience with others by providing |
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Garden HELP
EXPLORE our Books and Magazines for information about garden varieties BROWSE Seed Company Catalogs at the Library or online from local and Out-of-state seed companies CHECK our Events Calendar online https://www.cariboupubliclibrary.org /library-events.html or in the Library for upcoming Workshops and Seed Swaps CONTACT the University of Maine Cooperative Extension at https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening Email Cathy at: [email protected] OR ask at the Library’s Circulation Desk |
WHAT is a Seed Library?
A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free or a a nominal fee and is operated for the public benefit.
Seed libraries and other community seed initiatives such as: seed banks, seed swaps, “Seedy Saturdays”, seed celebrations, seed saving community gardens, and more are part of this vibrant, emerging seed culture. These activities help educate the public about seeds and their connection to food, as well as keeping seeds freely accessible and in the public domain. Additionally, they provide vital plant diversity conservation services.
(https://foodtank.com/news/2020/07/26-organizations-working-to-conserve-seed-biodiversity/)
A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free or a a nominal fee and is operated for the public benefit.
Seed libraries and other community seed initiatives such as: seed banks, seed swaps, “Seedy Saturdays”, seed celebrations, seed saving community gardens, and more are part of this vibrant, emerging seed culture. These activities help educate the public about seeds and their connection to food, as well as keeping seeds freely accessible and in the public domain. Additionally, they provide vital plant diversity conservation services.
(https://foodtank.com/news/2020/07/26-organizations-working-to-conserve-seed-biodiversity/)
WHY do we need a seed library?
According to the Seed Libraries webpage (http://seedlibraries.weebly.com/),
‘for some communities, getting folks to garden and grow some of their own food
is the focus. For other communities, seed libraries may be created as an
important step to develop a network of seed savers who create locally adapted
varieties. By saving seeds and creating locally adapted varieties, these seed
savers are preserving genetic diversity and responding proactively to the loss
of variety choice due to the commercialization of genetically modified organisms
(GMO’s). Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years.’
Let’s revive the practice and start to save and share seed in our communities!
According to the Seed Libraries webpage (http://seedlibraries.weebly.com/),
‘for some communities, getting folks to garden and grow some of their own food
is the focus. For other communities, seed libraries may be created as an
important step to develop a network of seed savers who create locally adapted
varieties. By saving seeds and creating locally adapted varieties, these seed
savers are preserving genetic diversity and responding proactively to the loss
of variety choice due to the commercialization of genetically modified organisms
(GMO’s). Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years.’
Let’s revive the practice and start to save and share seed in our communities!
