Welcome to the Smith's Seed Library
What Is a Seed Library?
A Seed Library is a community resource that shares seeds with people for free, encouraging them to grow plants and return saved seeds for others to use. Its goal is to support local gardening, preserve plant diversity, and promote sustainable agriculture.
The HPU Seed Library supports:
- Campus Sustainability and Biodiversity
- Hands-on Learning for Students
- Community Building through shared Gardening Project
How It Works — Four Simple Steps
-
Browse trough our seed collection in Smith Library.
-
Borrow the seeds you’d like to plant — Take up to 5 packs of seeds per season!
-
Grow your plants in a dorm, apartment, or at home — You don’t need a big garden! A sunny windowsill, balcony, or just a single pot is enough to get started.
-
Save & Reuse seeds from your harvest so your garden can continue to grow.
Make sure to ask a librarian or email gardens@highpoint.edu with any questions.
Seed Library Resources
-
Seed Libraries
by
Community-based initiatives to preserve and protect our food supply Historically, seed companies were generally small, often family-run businesses. Because they were regionally based, they could focus on varieties well-suited to the local environment. A Pacific Northwest company, for example, would specialize in different cultivars than a company based in the Southeast. However the absorption of these small, independent seed businesses into large multinationals, combined with the advancement of biotechnology resulting in hybrids and GMO seeds, has led to a serious loss of genetic diversity. The public is now at the mercy of the corporations that control the seeds. In the past few years, gardeners have realized the inherent danger in this situation. A growing movement is striving to preserve and expand our stock of heritage and heirloom varieties through seed saving and sharing opportunities. Seed Libraries is a practical guide to saving seeds through community programs, including: Step-by-step instructions for setting up a seed library A wealth of ideas to help attract patrons and keep the momentum going Profiles of existing libraries and other types of seed saving partnerships Whoever controls the seeds controls the food supply. By empowering communities to preserve and protect the genetic diversity of their harvest, Seed Libraries is the first step towards reclaiming our self-reliance while enhancing food security and ensuring that the future of food is healthy, vibrant, tasty, and nutritious. Cindy Conner is a permaculture educator, founder of Homeplace Earth and producer of two popular instructional gardening DVDs. She is also the author of Grow a Sustainable Diet .
ISBN: 9781550925753Publication Date: 2015-02-01
Seed Library FAQ
To borrow seeds, simply browse the collection in Smith Library and choose up to five packets per season. Plant them wherever you have space and save some seeds from your harvest to reuse or return for next season. For more details, please refer to the “How it works” section of our LibGuide.
You can take up to five seed packets per season.
For detailed storage tips, see Seed Preservation Tips in the Books & eBooks tab. Need help right away? Email gardens@highpoint.edu or ask a librarian at Smith Library.
If a seed is out of stock, it’s gone for the season. Make sure to check back next semester when we restock the next seasons varieties.
Join our in-person Seed Library Interest Group. Just add you name and email on the signup sheet located next to our Seed Catalog in the Smith Library.
Many of our seeds come straight from HPU Gardens although we also supplement our collection for a bigger variety for our community. Every seed packet is labeled with their source. Make sure to check the label, ask a librarian at Smith Library, or email gardens@highpoint.edu for more information.
No, returning seeds isn't required, but encouraged. If you harvested extra seeds and want to give back, drop them off at the campus gardens. Staff will then check, repackage, and add healthy seed back into the seed catalog collection.
