Free Seeds for Your Garden from Area Seed Libraries

Photo byMarkus SpiskeonUnsplash

Now is the time of year when serious gardeners are poring over catalogs, creating garden plans and dreaming of spring. Even if you’re a casual gardener, or just have a pot or two on the balcony, you might be looking forward to summer flowers and fresh herbs.

While seeds are not terribly expensive, especially considering their output, it’s still nice to get things for free. And the mission of seed libraries is also nice; communities of like-minded people saving and sharing seeds. Everything from heirloom vegetables to edible flowers.

When you “borrow” seeds from the libraries, you’re encouraged , but not required, to save and share seeds at the end of the growing season. That’s what keeps them going.

The King County Seed Lending Library has two locations in Seattle where you can obtain seeds. The bonus is that they’re located in tool lending libraries so you can also borrow a wide variety of gardening tools.

Phinney Neighborhood Center Tool Lending Library

Northeast Seattle Tool Library http://neseattletoollibrary.org/seed-library/

The King County Library System offers a seed library at the Woodmont branch. Borrowing there also gives you the opportunity to check out a wide variety of books on growing plants and saving seeds, which is especially useful for beginners.

The Everett Public Library runs the Un-Bee-Leaf-Able Seed Library and on Saturday, February 10^th they’ll be holding a free garden lecture on winter gardening and spring starts.