NBPL's Seed Library
The North Bay Public Library is very excited to be launching a Seed Library! We would like to thank Burrows and Laporte's nurseries for their donations to help our seed library get started!
What is a seed library?
A seed library is a special collection of seeds for growing food and flowers. These seeds help encourage food literacy, food security, and hopes to foster wellbeing through gardening.
Seed libraries encourage the return (or donation) of seeds so that the seed collection can continue to grow.
How does it work?
Seed packets from the NBPL’s seed library are available seasonally from February to October. A North Bay Public Library card is required to borrow seed packets from the seed library. Library patrons are welcome to take seeds and return or donate back at the end of the growing season.
Fill in the “Seed Library sign out sheet” to take seeds from the library using your library card number. The sign out sheet is located next to the Seed Library. Seeds are available on a first come, first served basis, and are not holdable. There is a suggested borrowing limit of 5 seed packages per household. Seeds can be browsed in person next to the main circulation desk.
How do I save seeds?
Seed saving is different for each kind of plant. Find resources for seed saving in our collection under 635.0421 in the non-fiction section on our main level. More resources can be found on the Seeds of Diversity website here: https://seeds.ca/seed-gardening-resources/seed-saving/
How can I donate?
Seed donations are accepted year round at the main circulation desk. Please hand your donations directly to a staff member.
When donating harvested seeds, please make sure that they are:
- clean and dry
- open-pollinated and heirloom varieties
- removed from the surrounding plant material
- clearly labelled with the collection year and seed variety
When donating purchased seeds, please include the original seed envelope if possible.
If you are donating flower seeds, please also note the flower colour.
What can you find in our seed library?
Flowers
- Bachelor's Buttons
- Cosmos
- Daisy
- Echinacea
- Hollyhock
- Lupines
- Morning Glory
- Ornamental Grass
- Pansy
- Rudbeckia
- Snapdragon
- Sunflower
- Sweet Pea
- Venidium
- Wildflower Mixes
- Zinnia
Herbs
- Basil
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Parsley
- Lavender
- Oregano
- Rosemary
Vegetables
- Beans
- Beets
- Bunching onions
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Endive
- Hot Pepper
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Okra
- Onion
- Peas
- Pak Choi
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Radicchio
- Radish
- Spinach
- Squash
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Pepper
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatoes
Fruit
- Cantaloupe
