Seed Library

Seed Quilt by Carole Poma

What is a Seed Library?

The seed library is a depository of seeds held in trust for the members of the Mendocino County Library. Members come to the library and borrow seed for their garden. They grow the plants in their home garden and at the end of the season, they let a few of the plants go to seed. From those plants, they collect seeds and return the same amount of seed (more or less) as they borrowed at the beginning of the growing season.

Why is a seed library important?

More and more seed companies are being bought by large corporations that develop and sell hybrid seeds that can’t be saved, and must be bought again every spring. Seed libraries provide the sort of seeds that can be saved and replanted, from year to year.

When you grow, save and share seed you are:

  • Increasing the genetic diversity of seed stock
  • Developing seed stock that is more resilient and better adapted to the local climate and soil
  • Perpetuating the knowledge and culture of seed saving
  • Providing seeds to others in our local community

Fort Bragg Seed Library provides seeds through our Seed Request Program. Through the Seed Request Program a total of 20 seed packets can be obtained (per individual) via request for both the Fall/Winter growing season and the Spring/Summer growing season. The Fall/Winter season runs from September thru February and the Spring/Summer season is March thru August. That’s a total of 40 seed packets per year per individual. 

Seeds are free to members.

Reading list:

The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food – Janisse Ray

The Organic Seed Grower: A Farmer’s Guide to Vegetable Seed Production – John Navazio

Organic Seed Production and Saving: The Wisdom of Plant Heritage – Bryan Connolly

The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds: 322 Vegetable, Herbs, Fruit, Flowers, Trees and Shrubs – Robert E Gough

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners – Suzanne Ashworth

For more information:

Seed Savers Exchange

Global Seed Network

Organic Seed Alliance

UC Master Gardener Program – Sonoma County -Saving Seeds

NCO Garden Project

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens