New library program offers free seeds

FINDLAY — A seed library is about to sprout at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. The local facility is following a growing trend of libraries that collects donations and then offers free seeds to gardeners. A kickoff will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Lindamood Room. Adults can pick up free seeds and basic gardening supplies to get started, meet other gardeners and learn about the new seed library. There will be over 300 varieties of seeds to choose from including native and heirloom seeds for flowers, vegetables and herbs. This is more of a drop-in event, explained Devin Orpurt, information services associate, and Melody Flick, adult service librarian, who are in charge of the program. The seed library will officially open to the public on Monday. Seeds will be located in a cabinet near the entrance to the adult services department. Anyone 16 and older may take seeds — up to 10 packets per day. A library card is not required. Since the seed library runs on donations, gardeners are asked to take only what they plan to use. Orpurt has been trying to get a seed library started at the library since 2018. "That was pretty new when I first started looking at them. But over the years, a lot of libraries have started seed libraries," she said. The whole idea is getting seeds out to people. "There's a lot of gardeners around here so we thought it would be big here also," said Orpurt. Benefits include learning to grow your own food, flowers or native plants, and getting to enjoy time outside, she said. Flick said she feels like sharing comes naturally to gardeners. "Anytime you talk to a gardener, they're like, I grew too much of this, do you want this, do you want to take my seeds? So this is just making more of a formal community thing," she said, Harvesting seeds is also a skill people can learn, noted Orpurt. "I don't really harvest seeds so it's good to learn a new skill to preserve what you've already grown because it does better year after year when you grow it," she said. "You can make them drought resistant or disease resistant, depending on which seed you choose to harvest and keep," added Flick. Donations of seeds will also be accepted during the kickoff. At some point, Orpurt said they would like the seed library to be self-sustaining at some point. Anyone who donates seeds will need to fill out a form with the kind of seed and the plant variety, if known. A large majority of the donations they've gotten to date have been from Lowe's, Findlay. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Missouri has also provided some, they said. "They (Baker Creek) have a lot of cool seeds that are just unusual," said Flick. "They have some for tomatoes. They look like tomatoes, but the insides are like bell peppers so you can stuff them." The women said everything has been donated by seed companies or community members. As these are donated, they may have lower germination rates. The seed library will also be self-serve. When someone takes seeds from the cabinet, they're asked to write it on the seed log so staff know what to restock. The library will accept open-pollinated, heirloom or native seeds no older than one year, said Orpurt. "We've already gotten some Amish coxscomb which is like a big red flower, and some Mexican sunflower donations from community members," said Flick. The coxscomb has an interesting shape because it looks like a rooster's comb, Orpurt said. The Mexican sunflower is similar to the flowers grown here, but it's smaller and it looks more orange in color. They have also received more unusual seeds for growing gourds and wheat. Among the seeds that cannot be accepted are GMO seeds or any patent-protected seeds, for example PVP seeds; hybrid seeds; and seeds listed as invasive or noxious by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. To donate seeds, harvest, dry and prepare them. Seed saving requirements will vary by plant. The seeds should be in a sealed envelope or sealed plastic bag, along with a completed seed donation form. Place the envelope or bag in the seed box container at the library. The seed library will remain out through Sept. 22.