Seed Library

Our Seed Library is about…

Educating the community in the art of growing, harvesting and saving seeds.

Creating and developing a community sustained collection of seeds that are well suited to our climate.

Promoting sustainability in our community, and nurturing a culture of sharing and abundance.

The Seed Library has obtained numerous donations from a variety of seed companies.  Thank you to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Beauty Beyond Belief, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Peaceful Valley, Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

Seed Library Organization

The seeds are arranged alphabetically by common name and then alphabetically by variety. For example:

Common name: TomatoVariety: Red Cherry

How to Borrow Seeds

Choose up to 5 packets of seeds. Take a brochure on “How to Save Seeds.” Sign out the seeds you are checking out. Please provide us with your name, your contact information and the seeds you “borrowed.”

How to Donate and Return Seeds

We anticipate holding a Seed Swap in February 2023. Bring your saved seeds to the swap.

Or, bring in:

  • The same variety of heirloom or non-GMO/open-pollinated seed from a commercial grower
  • Another non-GMO/open-pollinated variety of the seed

Remember: In order for the Seed Library to be self-sustaining, borrowed seeds need to be replaced.

Basic Seed-Saving Guidelines

  1. Plan your garden to reduce cross-pollination by using isolation distances below.
  2. Always save seeds from the healthiest, “true-to-type” plants.
  3. Select seeds for different characteristics such as size, taste, and disease resistance.
  4. Don’t save seeds from hybrids.
  5. Label your garden and packets.
  6. Never plant all of your seeds in one year.

Great Plants for Beginner Seed Savers!

Peas & Beans (Legumes)

Plant: To ensure varietal purity, isolate different varieties of beans by 100 ft and peas by 50 ft.
Harvest: Let beans and peas dry on the vine until crispy. Collect. Shell.
Know your bean species: If you know the scientific name of your bean, then you can plant one of each species and not have to worry about cross-pollination. Ex. Fava beans (Vicia faba) can be planted right next to Kentucky wonder beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Sunflower Family

Lettuce

Plant: Isolate different varieties of lettuce by 10 ft.
Harvest: Let lettuce bolt. When half the flowers have turned white & fluffy, cut off the stalk and put upside down in a brown paper bag to dry. Remove chaff.

Sunflowers

Plant: Isolate different varieties of sunflowers by ¼ mile! Other strategies are to plant lots of the same variety of sunflower and rub your hand over the flowers to increase self-pollination.
Harvest: Let sunflower head dry on plant. Collect seeds.

Nightshade Family

Tomatoes

Plant: Isolate different varieties by 10 ft.
Harvest: Collect ripe tomatoes. Squeeze pulp and seeds into a jar. Let ferment 2-3 days until a mold forms. Add water. Pour off mold, floating seeds and any pulp. Viable seeds will sink. Repeat until water is clear. Put on a labeled paper to dry.

Peppers

Plant: Isolate different varieties by 400 ft. Peppers will cross!
Harvest: Remove seeds from fully ripened peppers. Use gloves, if hot. Dry.

Credit: With thanks to Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library

Adaptive Seeds Seed Saving Booklet
http://www.seedambassadors.org/docs/seedzine4handout.pdf

Saving Peas and Beans (VIDEO) from Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZytCCwIqao

How to Save Lettuce (VIDEO) from Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck4qRZ7yg3k

How to Save Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplant (VIDEO) from Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8rSbgEnvdc