Seed Library

2018 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Maricopa County, Ariz., AZ

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About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The White Tank Library started a community Seed Library in July 2017. This non-traditional lending program allows customers to “borrow” seeds in order to create their own gardens at home. In addition to harvesting their own crop they are encouraged to save some seeds from their harvest and return them to the library for other customers to “borrow.” We track borrowed seeds with a generic barcode to measure the program’s activity. Since starting our Seed Library, we have lent 119 packs of native seeds and 805 packs of organic and heirloom seeds in the community. In order to support seed lending, we regularly have programs on gardening and seed saving techniques. Organic and heirloom seeds for the program were donated by a former Master Gardener in the community. The library also received a grant from Native Seeds for other varieties found in the Southwest. These seeds are acclimated to the Southwestern environment, tend to be hardier, and need less water. By growing collections of seeds adapted to the region, lending and returning seeds promotes local agriculture. The seed library continues to gain in popularity. We have already had members of the community harvesting seeds to be reincorporated into the library.

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