Country Woman

APRIL I MAY 2015 COUNTRY WOMAN 23Check OutThese SeedsBorrow packets from the library andgrow your garden. BY SHARON SELZ``````Spreading like weeds.There are nearly 400 seedlibraries in the U.S. andbeyond, including this onein Basalt, Colorado (left).Growing generations.Seed library pioneerRebecca Newburn (top)helps a new gardenerdecide what to grow.Paying it forward.Borrowers divvy upthe seeds they’ve saved(above) from their harvest.Card catalogs aresprouting a new roleat public librariesacross the country.Instead of author,title and subject, think lettuce,tomatoes and kale.And forget the late fees. Seedsare free with one simple request—that you pay them forward.“Our patrons check out seedpackets on their library cards, justas they do books or CDs,” says GailOwens, coordinator of the seedlending program at the regionallibrary in Basalt, Colorado. If theyhave a successful harvest, patronsare asked to return seeds from thebest of their yield to replenish thelibrary’s collection for the nextgrowing season.APRIL (^) I MAY 2015 COUNTRY WOMAN 23Community of gardenersSeed lending libraries grew outof the eat-local movement, saysStephanie Syson, a permacultureteacher and herbalist who helpedlaunch the program in Basalt. Andit doesn’t get more local than yourown backyard.“We gathered healthy vegetable,herb and flower seeds adapted tothis environment,” Stephanie says.“Our starter stock was donated byarea farmers, gardeners and seedcompanies that offered organic,heirloom and open-pollinated(nonhybrid) varieties.”In the weeks before the seedlibrary’s grand opening, volunteersgathered for sorting parties. “Wedivided the bulk seeds into aboutDISPLAY: BASALT REGIONAL LIBRARY; CATALOG: MICHELLE SIXTA; JARS: PHOTO COURTESY OF SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE 2,000 small packets, labeledGet more freshideas in our freenewsletter. Sign upat countrywomanmagazine.com/newsletters.