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Avatar for rondaumbel
Mar 15, 2015 8:58 PM CST
Thread OP

Hello I'm looking to start a seed library for our local library. Accepting all contributions. There's none in this area. They can borrow plant and return some seed. I am collecting all types of seeds. May be able to send postage if needed. Looking for a good variety. Also am personally looking for fruit tree and berry cuttings for me personally and any flowering tree cuttings. Since I'm just getting started I can pay postage until I have some tradable stuff. Let me know. I would love to be able to trade since i love growing new things. I just plain love to grow so anything is anoption lol.
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Mar 15, 2015 9:56 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
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Welcome!
What is your area? It would help to know that so we know which seeds/plants would be able to grow in your zone.

Also, can you please tell us more about how the seed library will operate? Thank You!
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Mar 16, 2015 10:08 AM CST
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
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Yes Ronda, please tell us where you are .. I'll be happy to call the county library there and find out exactly how this program works.
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Mar 16, 2015 11:56 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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I've never heard of a Seed Library but what a wonderful concept! I'd be curious to hear how this program works too, I think it's something every city library should consider starting!
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Avatar for rondaumbel
Mar 17, 2015 10:17 AM CST
Thread OP

We in zone 5. A seed library works like this. Saved seeds are put in labeled envelopes and cataloged alphabetically by type. You can pick up an envelope of the variety you pick out and take home and plant. The seeds need to be true seed or heirloom varieties. At the beginning there will be smaller amounts of seed so the envelopes will only contain a few to get started. As the seeds are checked out and brought back in after harvest people will be asked to save at least a few more than they checked out so we can serve more people.There will be a sign out sheet. At the end of the summer when you have grown your plants and harvested your seed you saved you return seeds to the library for future check out... I will be printing out some information and links for seed saving for those that participate. I'm in a very rural community so most people have a garden. I would like to get more people interested in seed saving and swapping in the local area. This in turn will allow more people to try new varieties than they typically grow. If they do not return their starter seed or an equivalant in the case, of a crop failure, they would no longer be allowed to check out seeds unfortunately. If they sign out the seeds with a name and phone number it will be easy to keep track of . I'm also hoping to give those folks that don't garden an incentive to check it out. It will be fun. There are seed libraries started in several areas that's how I found out about it I'm just hoping to make it more local.
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Mar 17, 2015 10:27 AM CST
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
Only dead fish go with the flow!
Plant and/or Seed Trader Birds Cat Lover Greenhouse Tropicals Bulbs
Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus Hybridizer Garden Sages Butterflies
Sounds interesting .. where exactly are you .. zone 5 is a bit nebulous and I'd still like to contact the library and get their input as to types of seeds wanted and not wanted .. I'm thinking you wouldn't want to be offering seeds that are on your states invasive/prohibitive list.

Please tell us where you are .. I'm sure others would like to start something like this in their own county library and I'd like the names of the libraries that are already doing this so I can inform my library. I think this is an awesome idea.
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Last edited by Xeramtheum Mar 17, 2015 10:28 AM Icon for preview
Avatar for rondaumbel
Mar 17, 2015 3:05 PM CST
Thread OP

Hmm I'd better double check the lists then that hadn't occupied to me. I talked to Michelle today and she's willing to find me a spot to start the seed library. The branch is located in Friendsville, Maryland. It a branch of the Ruth Enlow Library of Maryland. At some of the other branches they have gardening and master gardening classes but as ours is a very small branch in a tiny community so there's lots of room for this to grow into other branches. Also maybe an added benefit will possibly be a bit more traffic for her. I would like to have everything set up by the end of April or the first of May. Our general last frost date here is memorial day so nothing with a super long season we are pretty much finished by labor day unless it's something you can move inside or a houseplant/ container garden item. This branch serves several families from Pennsylvania also since its the closest library. So I will pull up invasive lists for both. Thanks for the idea blonde roots must be showing. I will post them as soon as I find them. Thanks again.
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Mar 17, 2015 7:49 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
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Question please.
How will you know that the returned seeds will be pure? Will you be educating people about the distance required between plants?
I am only learning about this myself; there are others who know which plants will cross and which won't.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Avatar for keithp2012
Mar 18, 2015 9:40 AM CST
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
My glass gem corn is on the way for you Smiling
Avatar for rondaumbel
Mar 18, 2015 8:24 PM CST
Thread OP

Yes cross applications is a concern, but we have grown corn for years and we learned that one very early. I go to the library weekly so I plan on keeping an information packet set with the display. I should be able to make sure there are plenty of packets available to educate those wishing to participate. I really love all the help you guys are giving me. Sometimes what automatically occurs to me requires thought for others. We enjoy several varieties of popcorn plus sweet corn I think about those things when planting but it will be important to put in the packet for others. They have a good deal of youngsters who may not get a lot of adult supervision so the more I can include while keeping it simple the better this project will go, lol. I tip my hat to you.
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Mar 18, 2015 9:48 PM CST
Name: ursula
Chile (Zone 9b)
What a nice Project!

Please keep us posted on this or a new thread of how it develops. I might want to copy it Lovey dubby Although I live in a VERY rural area, with no libraries, etc, around, there is a primary school in the village that could probably be interested in a Project.

Thanks for sharing!

ursula
Avatar for keithp2012
Mar 19, 2015 12:58 PM CST
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I have some yellow Crabapple seeds from a single crabapple tree that grows wild here, it's so huge and old but the wildlife go crazy for crabapples! I could send you a few seeds, it would be worth growing these into trees as they self pollinate but also pollinate Apple trees if a cultivar needs pollen to produce fruit. I sow them in pots outside in full sun keep soil moist but not soaking wet and they sprout by themselves once it's warm outside. I transplant them to individual pots once they are a few inches tall or just plant each seed in its own pot.

Even if you can't use them for trading because it takes few years for fruit in the long run a tree will provides hundreds of seeds each year once it gets fruit.
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Last edited by keithp2012 Mar 19, 2015 1:06 PM Icon for preview
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Mar 19, 2015 8:46 PM CST
Name: Tami Smith
Naylor, GA (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Gardens in Buckets Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America The WITWIT Badge
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Keith, I would love to have some crab apple seeds if you have any to spare.

Rhonda, Please send me your address so I can send some seeds.
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Jan 20, 2016 5:27 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
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Just curious If this seed library ever got started?
Smiling
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Jan 20, 2016 5:35 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
All posts by the OP were made 10 months ago; nothing after that. We may never know.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Jan 20, 2016 8:54 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
I noticed that, but thought it worth a try.
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
Avatar for keithp2012
Jan 20, 2016 10:32 PM CST
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I know I sent seeds but never heard if this happened either?
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Jan 20, 2016 10:54 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
The OP mentioned someone named Michelle at the library branch located in Friendsville; it a branch of the Ruth Enlow Library of Maryland. Guess someone might try to contact the library directly to see if the "seed library" ever happened.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Feb 20, 2016 9:16 PM CST
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Name: Rob Duval
Milford, New Hampshire (Zone 5b)
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