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Seed Library

General Info & FAQ:

How does the seed library work?

Growers obtain seeds from the library and check them out at the front desk. A record is made of seeds taken, as well as contact details.

At the end of the growing season, the grower harvests and saves some of the seed for next season and returns a portion, typically twice the starting amount, to the Kimberley seed library.

 

 

Do I need a Kimberley Library card?

Yes, library membership is required. The seed library is open to anyone with library membership who lives in the Kimberley, Ta Ta Creek, Wasa and the Skookumchuk region.

 

 

 

 

How many seeds can I take?

The Kimberley Seed Library exists to maintain a bank of regional seeds and develop local seed breeders. Borrowers are limited to loans of 3 seed packs per person, per season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve never saved seeds before, how do I do it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kimberley Public Library has some excellent books to check out on seed saving, located in the non-fiction section call # 631.5

We also have handouts with seed saving information, available at the front desk.

Basic information on seed saving is available through the organization Seeds of Diversity, follow this link:

https://seeds.ca/seed-gardening-resources/

 

How many seeds do I need to return to the library?

Return twice as many seeds to the library as you checked out. More are always welcome! Simply fill out the seed label and return at the library front desk. Please include as much information as possible:

Common Name: e.g. kale, curly kale, dwarf blue curly kale

Year: The year the seeds collected on.

Generation: How many years have you planted and harvested this particular seed.

Do I have to bring back the same type of seeds I check out?

We encourage participants to bring back seeds harvested from the plants they grew from the Kimberley Seed Library, in order to build our supply of regionally adapted seeds.

However, there are many variables to consider when saving seeds, such as keeping breeds pure, and plants that take 2 seasons to reproduce. For this reason, you can bring back different seeds than you borrowed, provided they meet the seed donation guidelines.