What is a Seed Library?
A Seed Library is a self-perpetuating collection of seeds donated and shared by members of our community. Hosted at all library branches, seeds are available free of charge to any library patron. You don't need a library card to use the seed library, but we'll be happy to make one for you.
The idea is simple: you borrow from a selection of vegetable and flower seeds at any time during the year, plant them in your garden, and watch them grow. When it’s time to harvest, let a plant or two go to seed, and bring some of the seeds back to the library for other gardeners to enjoy.
Seed Starting Tips
- Know your seeds - some should be started indoors 6 – 8 weeks before planting outside (peppers), some should be directly sown outside (beans).
- Before planting your seeds, pre-soak in a damp paper towel for 24 hours.
- Pre-moisten soil and plant the seeds in containers that allow for air flow and drainage.
- Plant the seed at a depth approximately 3 times the length of the seed. Label each container to keep track of which plants are which.
- Once planted, keep seeds warm and humid to encourage germination, between 19 – 24 degrees Celsius. To do this, cover with a clear lid or plastic wrap. Remember that seeds don’t need a lot of light until they have sprouted.
- Once your seeds have sprouted, keep them in a sunny place. You may want to consider using a grow light.
- Remove the lid or covering once seeds have sprouted. Keep soil moist and fertilize weekly.
- Check for overcrowding. If you have planted multiple seeds in the same pot, pull weaker/smaller sprouts to give the larger/stronger sprouts room to grow.
- ‘Pot up’ if necessary – if your seedling is outgrowing its container before it is time to plant outside, you may want to pot it up into a slightly larger container.
- ‘Harden off’ your plant - up to a week before you plant outside, let your seedlings sit outside in a sunny spot for a few hours each day so it gets used to outside conditions.
- Plant outside after the threat of frost has passed, usually after Victoria Day weekend.
Seed Saving Tips
- Seeds must be fully dry before storage to prevent the seeds from breaking down and failing to germinate the following year.
- Store seeds in a dark, cool, and dry place like the back of the fridge over winter in envelopes. A special tip is to place a silica packet with them to absorb any moisture.
- You can save seeds from heirloom or non-hybrid plants. It is not recommended to save seeds from hybrids or GMOs. Hybrid sees may result in weak and unhealthy plants due to their mixed parentage.
- Label the seed packets preferably in paper envelopes with the plant's name, season harvested, best growing conditions, and any other relevant information available.
- For guides on saving seeds, visit Southern Ontario Seed Saver or explore the large selection of gardening guides and books in the library's catalogue.
Download a Seed Library brochure.
- We are accepting donations at any time throughout the year.
- Community members can donate seeds by picking up labelled envelopes and information sheets from any GPL branch.
- At home, fill the envelope with 9 to 15 seeds, and fill out the information on the front of the envelope.
- Return the envelope to any GPL branch.
- Donated seed packets will be sorted and distributed to each branch.
- Each branch will have a chest of drawers that will house available seeds.
- Community members can go to any branch, and ask to pick up seeds.
We are allowing community members to take up to two packets per visit.
Since we cannot predict the seeds available for donation, we are unable to accommodate requests for specific seeds.
- Growing and saving seeds from locally grown plants helps cultivate varieties that do well in our region.
- It helps preserve genetic diversity of old varieties.
- We hope to cultivate a network of seed savers in the region, supporting each other and the seed library as a resource for the gardening community.
- It helps to strengthen our local food system.
- Heirloom varieties provide different flavor profiles and interesting physical features, such as colorful carrots.
- Seeds are donated by community organizations and by people like you.
- Collecting local heirloom varieties helps preserve seed that might otherwise be lost.
- It promotes local agriculture by growing collections of seeds locally adapted to the region.
- Local experts host how-to classes, from planting seeds, companion planting, and saving seeds to preserving your bounty.