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Table of Contents
"A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free or for a nominal fee and is run for the public benefit. Many seed libraries are open in public libraries and community centers. For some communities, getting folks to garden and grow some of their own food is the focus. For other communities, seed libraries may be created as an important step to develop a network of seed savers, to create locally adapted varieties, to respond proactively to climate change or loss of gene integrity due to GMOs or to preserve genetic diversity. Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years. Rejoin the ritual and start to save seed and share the abundance in your community." - Seed Libraries
It is unfortunately quite easy to accidentally buy non-native, or worse, invasive plants from vendors, especially bulk "wildflower seed" packages which often have a handful of native, but mostly invasive species in them. The best way to get your hands on a truly native wildflower pack is to check with your local conservation groups or other organizations focusing specifically on rewilding in your local region.
Be sure to check before planting or sowing. We have two international directories to help, one with native plants, and one that lists invasives.
Community Seed Network "Hosts a map with individuals, organizations, and seed libraries. Resources in French and English.
Héberge une carte avec des individus, des organisations et des bibliothèques de semences. Ressources en français et en anglais."
SeedMap "A worldwide community network of seed libraries."
The Sangouiné Seed Library "Installée dans la commune rurale de Sangouiné, cette bibliothèque unique offre également un espace de travail collaboratif pour former les jeunes entrepreneurs agricoles à l'agroécologie sur sa ferme-école."
Seed Biblioteek in Cape Town
Share Seeds - シェアする“たね”プロジェクト Scroll down for a map of locations.
Palestine Heirloom Seed Library مكتبه البذور البلدية الفلسطينية "Part of the Fertile Crescent, Palestine has been considered one of the world’s centers of diversity, particularly for wheat and barley. This biodiversity, which has kept us alive for millennia, is being threatened by policies that target farmers and force them to give up their heirloom seeds and adopt new varieties. Heirlooms, which have been carefully selected by our ancestors throughout thousands of years of research and imagination, form one of the last strongholds of resistance to the privatization of our life source: the seed. These seeds carry the DNA of our survival against a violent background that is seen across the hills and valleys through settlement and chemical input expansions.
Heirloom seeds also tell us stories, connect us to our ancestral roots, remind us of meals our families once made at special times of the year. The Palestine Heirloom Seed Library (PHSL) is an attempt to recover these ancient seeds and their stories and put them back into people’s hands. The PHSL is an interactive art and agriculture project that aims to provide a conversation for people to exchange seeds and knowledge, and to tell the stories of food and agriculture that may have been buried away and waiting to sprout like a seed. It is also a place where visitors may feel inspired by the seed as a subversive rebel, of and for the people, traveling across borders and checkpoints to defy the violence of the landscape while reclaiming life and presence."
GSS Cebu Seed Production Site Seed Library "The seed production area is 1,200 square meters and will serve as a model for other regions of what dedicating land to seed production can do. "
Schola Campesina "Sharing knowledge for food sovereignty"
Kostenlose Samen für alle: Standorte "Hier seht Ihr die mir bekannten Aufstellorte der Saatgutboxen."
Les Grainothèques "Bienvenue sur notre site qui répertorie les grainothèques des bibliothèques de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FW-B).
La grainothèque en bibliothèque est un projet citoyen où chacun joue un rôle et qui nécessite une synergie commune. Ensemble, par de petits gestes, faisons-les vivre !"
Semínkovna "jsme jediná organizace v Česku zaměřená na osvětu a vzdělávání o domácí produkci semínek, lokálních odrůdách a udržitelném pěstování pro děti i dospělé.
Tvoříme vzdělávací platformu Semínkovna EDU: Online kurzy Začni od semínka, Patron Semínek, projektové dny na míru pro školy a školky a workshopy a kurzy pro dospělé."
Frøbibliotek Dokk1 "Dokk1 is a public space that functions as a culture house, uniting public institutions like library, citizen services, and national TV. Dokk1 provides a space for communities, contemplation, learning, and play."
Kostenlose Samen für alle: Standorte "Hier seht Ihr die mir bekannten Aufstellorte der Saatgutboxen."
FSZEK Magkönyvtár Soroksár "Küldetésünk: közösségépítés - találkozzunk a könyvtárban és a kertekben is."
Szezon Kert "Kertészetünk árutermelő kisgazdaság, a mezőgazdasági sokféleség bemutatóterepe, közösségi és alkotó tér. "
Seed Sovereignty (Interactive Map) use this link to find seed swaps, libraries, seed banks and more throughout the UK including, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Schola Campesina "Sharing knowledge for food sovereignty"
Seed It Forward "is an agroforestry initiative founded in 2015, led by an activEco-2014 alumna and a ClimateLaunchpad Moldova 2015 alumnus. The goal of the initiative is to “grow trees and people for a greener Moldova”. They do it with persistence, day by day, by planting and growing trees and other plants in different regions of the country, and sharing their passion and skills with other people, especially those ones who have never planted a tree in their life.
The main idea of the initiative, promoted through direct actions and inspiring examples, is that: Everybody can grow a healthy tree. Everybody can create a productive organic orchard. Everybody can plant a forest. Everybody can be part of the solution, not just part of the problem."
Carpe Vitam zadenbieb "Bij Carpe Vitam geloven we in het herdefiniëren van overvloed door duurzame permacultuur praktijken en oude agrarische methodes te integreren in onze proeftuin."
Zadenbibliotheek Nederland "Zadenbiebs vind je op veel locaties in heel Nederland. Je kunt er zaden lenen, inleveren en ruilen.
Op deze website vind je informatie over het zelf starten van een zadenbieb.
Je bent erg welkom als vrijwilliger, neem dan contact op met een locatie bij jou in de buurt."
Oslo Frøbibliotek "Oslo frøbibliotek er et tilbud for urbane hobbygartnere, enten du har en potte på balkongen, en dyrkingskasse, parsell eller hage! Ordningen fungerer slik at du låner frø fra frøbiblioteket på våren. Du sjekker ut frø i skranken på biblioteket, og registrerer deg. Du forsøker deretter å høste frø fra plantene du dyrker, og leverer de tilbake til biblioteket slik at andre kan låne de året etter. Ordningen er basert på tillit.
Oslo frøbibliotek ønsker å bidra til at flere får kunnskap om hvordan man høster frø. Dette er viktig for å ta vare på og benytte oss av de ressursene vi har rundt oss, og for å sikre at denne viktige kunnskapen ikke forsvinner. Frøene vil også gradvis tilpasse seg vårt lokalklima og premisser i Oslo."
Banca de slSeminte Casa Semintelor "It is a Community Seed Bank through which we save, preserve and multiply, the old, traditional and rare Romanian seeds.
The bank was born within a project initiated by the NGO – Romania in Transition Association, with mentoring and support from Arche Noah, the International Association of Seed Savers, based in Austria.
The model we want to adapt to the conditions in Romania has been developed by them over 30 years, and now the Arche Noah collection has over 5,700 traditional seed records and 16,000 supporting members. "
Knjižnica semen (Nova Gorica) "Knjižnica semen je eden od načinov ohranjanja biotske pestrosti kulturnih rastlin, ki temelji na brezplačni izmenjavi semen. Obstoj knjižnic semen na nekem območju krepi lokalno skupnost, omogoča izmenjavo dobrih praks in vzpodbuja varovanje ter ohranjanje doma pridelanih semen in vrst rastlin."
Knjižnica semen (Slovenska Bistrica) "Knjižnic semen bo zaenkrat delovala v osrednji knjižnici v Slovenski Bistrici. Namen knjižnice semen je vsekakor v prvi vrsti je ohraniti domača semena.
Za izposojo iz knjižnice semen je treba biti član knjižnice. Izposoditi si bo mogoče do deset različnih vrst semen na sezono, ki jih posadimo, vzgojimo nove rastline in del pridobljenih semen vrnemo v knjižnico."
Aragón
Red de Semillas de Aragón "Colectivo de semillas y personas, biodiversas, agroecológicas y con muchas ganas de germinar."
Seed Sovereignty (Interactive Map) use this link to find seed swaps, libraries, seed banks and more throughout the UK including, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
England
Earthrace Everything at 72.colescliffe road in Scarborough
Seed Share Library on Coach Road in Colchester
Stroud Community Seedbank #5 "We provide a range of services including gardening and we run several community projects across Gloucestershire."
Singh Green House at 15 Downmeadow in Bedworth
Scotland
Arran Seed library is on Main Street, Brodick, Isle Of Arran Ayrshire
Craigmillar Seed Library "borrow seeds from our seed library in partnership with Craigmillar Community Grows."
Edinburgh Seed Network "is a new project set up by a small volunteer collective to facilitate the sharing and celebration of seed among home and community growers in Edinburgh. We want everyone to have free access to growing food that’s good for the environment and good for us."
CCA-Glasgow: Glasgow Seed Library "is a collection of seeds and a community of growers.
The library stocks organic and open-pollinated vegetable, herb and flower seeds for everyone to borrow, grow and save. By learning to save and share seed locally, we can nurture unique varieties and adapt our plants to a changing Scottish climate.
Throughout the year, we run free workshops, talks and events around seed saving, community growing, food justice and earth care. Stay in touch on Instagram or drop us an email on glasgowseedlibrary@cca-glasgow.com"
Moffat Seed Library "launched in March 2023 as a way to swap, save, and share seeds within our Upper Annandale communities. Our mission is to foster a culture of sustainability, resilience, and connection through growing. We aim to bring together local gardeners to share their knowledge and resources."
Perthshire Seed Library "is a partnership between the Perthshire Organic Gardeners and Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries.
The library aims to enable gardeners (experienced and novice!) to share a resource of open-pollinated seeds that suit local growing conditions, a library of knowledge and information plus the experience from local seed library volunteers.
Membership is £7 and covers training sessions, author events, talks from experts and a minimum of 12 packets of seeds."
Community Seed Network "Hosts a map with individuals, organizations, and seed libraries. Resources in French and English.
Héberge une carte avec des individus, des organisations et des bibliothèques de semences. Ressources en français et en anglais."
British Columbia
Farm Folk City Folk: BC Seed Security Program "We connect, collaborate and engage to foster resilient, sustainable, equitable food systems in BC" "We have supported and built capacity for organic vegetable seed production across the province since 2006. Our various workshops, field days, and on-farm research aim to engage farmers, citizen growers, and academia in seed growing and saving."
Life Cycles: Seed Library "In partnership with the Greater Victoria Public Library, we are proud to offer seed-saving education and access to a wide variety of seeds!
Our library hosts over 200 varieties, most of which are relatively easy for beginner seed savers to grow and save. The collection is housed at the GVPL and includes a variety of vegetable, flower, herb, and native plant seeds, all graciously donated by regional growers."
Community Seed Network "Hosts a map with individuals, organizations, and seed libraries. Resources in French and English.
Héberge une carte avec des individus, des organisations et des bibliothèques de semences. Ressources en français et en anglais."
Native Seeds/SEARCH "seeks to find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world."
California
East Bay Local Seeds "Visit one of the local seed libraries in your town."
Mendo SeedMobile "A mobile seed library that hosts workshops around Mendocino County. 100% gardener contributed seeds, locally adapted and community selected"
Massachusetts
Michigan
MI Seed Library Network "serves to connect people interested in raising, eating, harvesting, and saving seeds. Rooted in community participation, this website is here to help curiosity seekers, growers, and seed libraries alike to navigate the intricacies of seed saving. The MI Seed Library pools community resources to provide networking opportunities, seed saving guidance, and educational resources as well as allowing room for both seed library and community growth. The MI Seed Library Network strives to promote sustainable agriculture, food systems, and social systems throughout the Michigan seed saving community so that seeds can continue to preserve cultural heritage and bring about positive change far into the future."
New York
MCPL Seed Library "This mission of the MCPL Seed Library is to collect, grow and share seeds with the community. The MCPL Seed Library contains a selection of vegetable, herb and flower seeds. Our selection changes throughout the year based on donations what is returned. Most our seeds are organic and GMO-free unless otherwise noted on the package.
North Carolina
Alliance of Native Seed Keepers "We are the world’s biggest little seed store, rooted in Indigenous traditions and dedicated to seedkeeping. Every packet we share is part of a bigger story, restoring heritage, protecting biodiversity, and building a future of resilience and sustainability."
Rhoade Island
Grow RI Native Seeds (GRINS) "is made possible in part by a grant from the RI Office of Library and Information Services using funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our mission is to empower Rhode Islanders to grow and champion native plants via seeds, information, and programming organized by their local libraries."
South Carolina
Spring Seed Library "is a partnership between the ASWCD and the Anderson County Main Branch Library. Any individual with a library card is able to check out 5 FREE seed packets of their choosing. Then take them home, plant the, and watch it grow!" "We will also be doing 2022 Pop-Up Seed Libraries at our neighboring library branches including..."
Texas
Austin Public Library (Central Location): Seeds & Sustainability: Central Library Seed Collection "The Seed Collection is a joint project of the Austin Public Library and the Central Texas Seed Savers, a grassroots group of seed savers, gardeners, horticulturists and social activists that coalesced around the idea of establishing a repository and exchange system for seeds of land race, heirloom, locally adapted and native varieties of fruits and vegetable and other useful plants in Central Texas region. The Seed Collection is housed in the classic card catalog cabinet on the Austin Central Library's 6th floor. Everyone is welcome to "check out" and "return" seeds from the collection. If you have more questions about this project or would like to join our green gang, please Ask a Librarian."
Little Seed Libraries in Texas
Festival Beach Food Forest Located on the main trail between a bench and the harvest kiosk. Its coordinates are 30.2534150, -97.7353691.
PEAS Community Farm 2200 Berkeley Ave 78745 "Farm is set back on the east side of campus. Farm hours are from 3:30pm til dusk Monday-Friday and dawn til dusk on Saturday and Sunday. The seed mailbox is currently turquoise."
The Thicket Food Park
7800 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78745
"If you volunteer at The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, the nursery of Houston Audubon's Edith L. Moore Sanctuary, or the Katie Prairie Conservancy, you can often get cuttings or seeds for free." (comment)
Sow.Grow.ReapEat Program "Seed Library The El Paso Public Libraries are now seed libraries!
Seed libraries are places that share or lend seeds. Each library has a collection of non-genetically modified fruit, vegetable, and herb seeds available for patrons to start their own edible gardens. “Check-out” up to 5 seed packets per season with your library card. The seeds are yours to keep (no late or lost fees!), but once you are a successful gardener, let some of your healthiest plants “go to seed.” Harvest the seed, save some for yourself, and donate some to the public library to keep our collections stocked."
Temple Public Library "has a Seed Library for members of the community to explore gardening for food or for beautifying their community. Please see the information below for our Frequently Asked Questions and additional resources for gardening in Central Texas.
This Seed Library is made possible through funding from the Friends of the Temple Public Library."
Twin Oaks Branch- drop off bulk seed donations at this location
University Hills Branch
University of Texas at Austin Seed Swap in the UT Tower by the Herbarium
Washington
Washington State Seed Library Network "Seed libraries throughout Washington State are coming together to save seeds and share them into their communities. The King County Seed Lending Library is now the Washington State Seed Library Network!""
The Seed Library Inc: Australian Heirloom Seed Library Collections 🏫 "has been encouraging and engaging children to grow and eat more vegetables.
Our aim is to continue introducing seed libraries into Australian Primary Schools, High Schools, Education Support Centres and Early learning Centres for children to develop a passion and understanding of where food comes from, how to grow their own and to enjoy eating more fresh vegetables.
Our Seeds in Schools project has delivered 32,545 packets of seed to 238 schools and education centres across Australia providing 69,529 children access to heirloom vegetable, flower and bush tucker seeds that are easily grown across the four seasons.
This initiative enables schools to utilise these seeds in expanding their kitchen gardens and encouraging horticulture activities across many subjects within the curriculum that align with sustainability, nutrition, waste, recycling and environmental initiatives.
We are currently working towards the next rollout of 14,025 packets to 78 education centres which will then provide 90,489 children with an opportunity to learn, grow, eat and discover the wonder of growing food.
From tiny seeds a lifelong growing experience begins."
Seedsavers Network "The Seed Savers’ Network is a not-for-profit organisation based in Australia to conserve, in culture, seeds of traditional varieties of plants for food and other uses. We favour varieties that are locally-adapted, hardy and dependent on neither synthetic fertilizers nor toxic chemicals, but rather home-made composts. We are home gardeners saving locally-adapted seeds of tomorrow’s food."
New South Wales
CNRL Seed library in Tamworth
Landcare Community Seed Library in Dunedoo "Our Three Rivers Landcare Community Seed Library has three branches."
Maitland Seed library "Join us in cultivating sustainability, fostering community engagement and preserving heirloom plant varieties right here in historic Maitland and its surrounding areas. The Maitland Seed Library is a special collaboration between Maitland Libraries and Slow Food Hunter Valley."
Seed Swap & Share "Members of MidCoast Libraries can access the Seed Library from Forster, Taree, Harrington, Nabiac, Wingham, Tea Gardens, Stroud and Bulahdelah Libraries and take home your choice of vegetable or flower seeds. Grow the seeds and enjoy your harvest!"
Singleton Seed Library "is run by Singleton Library in conjunction with the Singleton Slow Food Group."
Queensland
South Australia
Victoria
Connected Libraries: Seed Libraries learn more about how to borrow from these Melbourne libraries here.
myli (My Community Library): Seed Libraries "Are you keen to start your own garden at home? Join our free seed library at Pakenham Library, Emerald Library, Drouin Library, Inverloch Library, Leongatha Library, Mirboo North Library, Phillip Island Library and Wonthaggi Library and start planting!"
Hobsons Bay Seed Library "The seed library is located at Altona Library.
Welcome to your community seed library! By ‘borrowing’ a packet you are making a commitment to return some seeds to the library at the end of the season.
It is important to take this commitment seriously as the seed library cannot continue if stock is not replaced. Pop a note in your diary for when your seeds are ready to harvest and return. You can return a different variety to the seed you originally borrowed."
SeedMap "A worldwide community network of seed libraries."
North Island
Birkenhead Community Seed Library "Our seed library is located inside Birkenhead Library at the entrance, next to our Green Space. We have herb, kai and flower seeds available as well as free resources! Please fill out the seeds taken / seeds donated forms when using."
Kākano Seed Libraries "Drop into Korimako Cummings Park Library (Ngaio) or Ngā Puna Waiora Newtown Library and see what free seeds are available to get your garden going again."
Mangakino Seed Exchange (Mangakino Cultivators Collective) "Nestled in the heart of the Central North Island of New Zealand, our charming village is proud to be part of the Taupo community. While we may be a small village, we look forward to reaching out to our surrounding areas and the families and friends who have holiday homes here to foster a vibrant exchange of seeds and ideas.
Inspired by a dear friend from the New Zealand Seed Exchange, we have created a fantastic library of heirloom and heritage seeds for all to enjoy. We invite you to visit us for our Seed Exchange, starting in the first week of March. Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to explore our diverse selection at Mangakino Library.
As a community initiative, we welcome heirloom or heritage seeds and donations to help us run the Mangakino Seed Exchange. Let's cultivate a love for gardening and preserve our botanical heritage!"
Community Seed Network "Hosts a map with individuals, organizations, and seed libraries. Resources in French and English.
Héberge une carte avec des individus, des organisations et des bibliothèques de semences. Ressources en français et en anglais."
The Seed Library Map / El Mapa / La Carte
Les grainothèques "Les grainothèques existantes dans les bibliothèques de la fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWD)."
Seed Sovereignty (Interactive Map) use this link to find seed swaps, libraries, seed banks and more throughout the UK including, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Seed Sovereignty (Interactive Map) use this link to find seed swaps, libraries, seed banks and more throughout the UK including, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty Programme "is sowing a biodiverse, regenerative and resilient seed system in the UK and Ireland. We support agroecologically-produced and open-pollinated seeds, which are grown, saved and shared locally to reflect our diverse lands and cultures."
Scotland
Native Seeds/SEARCH "seeks to find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world."
Texas
Community Seed Grants (CSG) "are available once every year for school gardens and community organizations with regional and cultural connection to the NS/S seed collection. They are offered to garden projects working toward collective food security, seed sovereignty, traditional knowledge, education, and other efforts of community wellness. We do not require CSG recipients to save and return seeds, but encourage those who are able to do so, to provide seeds for their community.
Our region of focus is the Southwest, which generally includes: Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Colorado, western Oklahoma, western Texas, southern California, southern Nevada, and northwest Mexico. Native communities in arid places outside of this region may also apply.
We strive to support projects in Mexico. Due to mailing restrictions it is best if you have someone in the US who can receive and bring the seeds to Mexico.
Seed Libraries are eligible to receive one pre-selected variety each year. More information about seed library grants can be found here."