The Worth Public Library, 6917 W. 111th St., has a free Seed Library available to patrons. (Supplied photo)
Worth Library offers seeds for free
By Kelly White
A seed library collects and stores seeds and shares them with members of the community for free.
Similar to a normal library, gardeners borrow seeds from the seed library at planting time. At the end of the growing seasons, they save seeds from the plants and return a portion of the seeds to the library.
The Worth Public Library is proud to take on this locally sourced endeavor and has seeds available at the library, 6917 W. 111th St.
“The Seed Library is for our patrons to take seeds to start a kitchen garden,” Rachel Snyder, Director of the Worth Public Library, said. “We have seeds for flowers, veggies, and herbs on an honor system, though we ask patrons to be mindful on what they take so there are plenty for their friends and neighbors.”
This is the third year the library has hosted the Seed Library.
Seeds available are varieties of edibles, or wildflowers that serve as nectar and host plants for pollinators, along with food plants, including vegetables and herbs. The Seed Library encourage biodiversity and decrease our reliance on major seed companies. This helps combat seed monocultures which threaten the world’s food supply.
“We love to encourage at-home gardening and being able to see what our patrons have grown with the seeds,” Snyder said.
The library’s Seed Library Steward and Circulation Clerk Connie Herman does an excellent job of having a variety of seeds for patrons to choose from.
The Seed Library is now open and will run through the beginning of August.
It is housed right next to the elevator in the library’s entrance; however, the display features more than food. There are also items from the library’s popular Beyond Books Collection used for gardening to encourage people to check them out.
“The Seed Library is another way to serve our patrons that goes beyond our four walls while also creating a sense of community,” Snyder said.
This is a completely free program open to everyone. The library is not currently accepting seed donations this year, but staff members are hoping to expand the Seed Library into a larger seed swap next year.
“I love when patrons show us the pictures of their plants sprouting after taking seeds home from the Seed Library,” Snyder said.
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