Part 1: Seed Libraries
In 2011, a member of the community approached the Pima County Public Library (PCPL) with an idea: to allow patrons to check out seeds for their own use. After meeting with other seed providers for guidance, PCPL became one of many Arizona libraries who function as a lender of seeds as well as books.
Geoffery Blanton, who works for the library district, said the decision came at a time when both farmers markets and community gardens were becoming more popular, and consumers were interested in forming a more personal connection with the food they eat.
“Ultimately, we hoped to engage a diverse cross-section of our friends, family, and neighbors in a community-wide effort to borrow, grow, and share,” Blanton said.
The seeds are searchable in the library’s catalog just like books, DVDs, or any other library material. Blanton explained that patrons of all 27 libraries in the district are able to order the seeds and have them sent to their branch, giving people across Pima County easy access to seeds of many varieties. The program also aims to connect local gardeners with information and resources, including a Facebook community for easier communication. So far, the seed library has been a success: an estimated 28,000 packets were checked out in 2016, and the program has only expanded since then.
In addition to providing seeds,the PCPL seed library encourages the practice of “seed saving.” Essentially, seeds are checked out, planted, and grow to produce seeds of their own. Ideally, those seeds are then harvested and returned to the library’s collection. This is important, because as plants adapt to growing in a new environment (in this case the dry Arizona heat), their seeds become more resilient over generations. Seed saving means the seeds in the library are a better fit for the community they come from; more accustom to the climate, more resistant to predators, and, in some cases, more nutritious.
“We’ve been heartened by the number of seeds saved and returned from original seed library stock,” Blanton said.
This idea of public libraries doubling as seed lenders is becoming more popular across the country, and it’s easy to see why: public libraries function as a place in the community providing free services such as book checkout and computer access. Adding seeds to that list only increases their outreach.
These programs allow seeds to be distributed to the public, but what about preserving those seeds long-term? Continue to PART 2.
