The Irving Public Library’s Seed Library is a project that keeps on giving. Maintained at the South Irving Library, 601 Schulze Drive, the program gathers and maintains local seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation or from neighbor to neighbor. This practice, around for thousands of years, saves money and helps develop stronger seeds that provide healthy nutrition and are more adaptable to local climate.
Irving gardeners are encouraged to visit the Seed Library collection to check out seeds to plant in their own gardens. There are dozens of plants, flowers and vegetables available for immediate use: carrots, peas, sunflowers and basil to name a few. At the end of the season, let the plants go to seed, save those seeds and donate them back to restock the collection.
The collection is in a card catalog on the South Library’s first floor. Cardholders can select seed packets and check them out at the circulation desk.
Need Additional Help?
Most seed packets come with growing instructions and tips. Ask a librarian about the Seed Library’s donor process or where to find books on gardening and herb growing. Different seeds are available throughout the growing seasons, and patrons can find new selections during various times of the year.
Irving’s Seed Library is dependent on donations, but it’s a different kind of “green” to pay forward. So, dig in and start planting for Irving’s future.