Seed Library

The Modeste Bedient Memorial Library is proud to host a Seed Library, where we share seeds with local gardeners and aspiring green thumbs. Our mission is to support home gardeners, nurture locally adapted plant varieties and build community through seed sharing and home-grown food. If community members wish, they can donate their own seeds for others to borrow.

How do I borrow seeds?

The seeds in our seed library are completely free to the public (to those with and without a membership) and do nto have to be checked out like traditional library materials do. You may take as much seed as you wish but, please, only take as much seed as you can reasonably plant, nurture (and eat!) in a single growing season for your family. The library reserves the right to impose limits on seed take-outs, if necessary.

What seeds are available?

In our seed library section, we have a green 3-ring binder that features all the seed available within our oak seed cabinet. You can also browse our seed inventory below! Don’t forget to check back regularly, as our inventory changes based on season and new donations.

Where do I get the instructions on how to plant the seeds?

Below is a directory of our seeds listed A-Z by seed supplier. You can browse by scrolling down on this page to find your seed or hit CTRL-F on your keyboard and locate it via the pop-up search box. For each seed listed in this online directory, we have a link to the growing instructions that you can view and print. If you are seeking additional information on how to grow plants, the library has added several new gardening books that are available for checkout. These new titles are located in the seed library section.

Where do the seeds come from?

The Seed Library Project is funded (in part) by a grant from the Foundation for Southern Tier Libraries. Seeds were purchased from Baker Creek Seeds and Johnny’s Selected Seeds via this grant. We have also received donations from companies who provide non-GMO, open-pollinated or heirloom varieties. We are grateful to Burpee, The Seed Savers Exchange, Sow Right Seeds, and Baker Creek Seeds for their generous donations to get our seed collection started.

Have a question about the seed library?

The Seed Library was spearheaded by Library Director Shelley Pierce. You can contact her by phone (315) 595-2899, e-mail at pierces@stls.org or via Facebook Messenger (@ModesteBedientMemorialLibrary).

Share your progress

We would love to see the fruits of your labor! Tag us on social media to share how your plants are doing on Facebook (@ModesteBedientMemorialLibrary) or Instagram (@branchport_library).

Donate to our seed library

A seed library needs to be continually restocked for long-term success. Monetary donations are greatly welcomed so that new seed and packaging supplies (envelopes, re-closable poly bags and labels) can be purchased. You can make a monetary contribution at the circulation desk with a completed donation form.

It is our hope that over time, we will also receive seeds that are self-harvested by community members. Place some seeds for the Seed Library in clearly labeled envelopes or containers. Please label your envelope, jar or baggie with a donation slip from our seed library. The more information that you provide, the better we can track the success of our local seed stories.

Below is a complete directory of the seeds that will be available along with links to growing instructions. If you would like seeds that are not in the cabinet and are in a full size packet, please make an inquiry at the circulation desk and we will either give you a full size packet (if we have multiples of that packet) or give you a number of seeds from that packet to take home.