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24 COUNTRY WOMAN COUNTRYWOMANMAGAZINE.COMCW PROFILEthem and put on bar codes,” Gailsays. “Then we sorted the plantsaccording to the work it takes tosave their seeds”—from super-easy(peas, beans, lettuce and tomatoes)to difficult (broccoli, cucumbersand pumpkins).The library provided an amplesupply of gardening books andvideos, and the staff also offeredworkshops. In late summer, theythrew a tomato-tasting party sothe gardeners could share theirbest, Gail says.Community outreach is theBasalt seed library’s No. 1 priority.“The town offered us a section ofits public park for a seed-savinggarden,” Stephanie says. “We growabout a dozen vegetables and herbsthere strictly for library seeds.”A sign posted between the rowsreminds park visitors not to nibble.``````An idea takes rootWhen Rebecca Newburn helpedfound the Richmond Grows Seed-Lending Library in Richmond,California, in 2010, “we were one ofthe first housed in a public library,”she says. “We designed it as amodel other communities couldduplicate. Now there are nearly400 seed libraries throughout theU.S. and in 15 other countries.”``````Many schools, churches, foodpantries, museums and privatehomes have started seed librariesusing Richmond Grows’ guide (seeSeed Reading at right). Some aresocial, with folks swapping seedsand recipes. For others, the goalis to offer nutritious food in areaswhere it isn’t easy to find.“Most importantly,” Rebeccasays, “seed libraries reconnectus to our food, the land and theancient rituals of our ancestors—the skills needed to save seeds andthe motivation to share them.”American Library AssociationPresident Sari Feldman sees seedsas just one way libraries go beyondthe bookshelf. “Libraries now offere-books, musical instruments,tools and toys—all ways to connectwith the community and promotesharing,” she says. And they maybe turning bookworms into greenthumbs in the process. Q``````To be planted. Gardeners who borrow seeds from the library in Basalt,Colorado, return those from their best crop to lend a hand to fellow patrons.``````Seed ReadingFind a seed lending libraryin your area or start oneyourself with help from theseonline guides:- richmondgrowsseeds.org/ create-a-library.html- seedlibraries.net- exchange.seedsavers.org- kingcoseed.org/find-a -seed-library-near-you TOMATOES AND SEED PACKETS: BASALT REGIONAL LIBRARY; LENDING LIBRARY: RICHMOND GROWS