White Salmon Community Seed Library
Did you know that White Salmon now has a community seed library? The free seed collection and distribution is located in the White Salmon Valley Library from mid-January through October.
What’s a Community Seed library?
A community seed library is a living collection of seeds grown and harvested, and the next generation is returned. Growers/patrons check out seeds, collect seeds from their crops, and return a percentage of them to the seed library for distribution the following year.
Benefits of a Community Seed Library
A community seed library contributes to the biodiversity of genetic traits that support the resilience of species and cultivars and maintains public access to open-pollinated seeds. The seed library also develops regionally adapted seeds for our region’s growing conditions and contributes to strengthening our local food economy. And for all community members, the seed garden encourages gardening!
How Does a Seed Library Work?
The White Salmon Seed library functions as a self-serve process and is available whenever the the public library is open.
- Users complete a one-time membership form. (You do not need a library card).
- Select up to five packets of seeds and complete a seed check-out form.
- Sow the seed, harvest and enjoy the crops and allow several plants to go to seed.
- Collect, clean, and dry the seed.
- Return some of the seed to the seed library, completing a seed donation form.
- We will also accept seeds collected from correctly identified native plants and leftover
seeds purchased from a retailer. Complete a seed donation form for these as well.
Seed Return Commitment
The only way to keep the seed library active is to return seeds. We ask that seed library users return seeds from at least one of the crops grown in their garden.
You can learn more by attending one of the upcoming information sessions held at the White Salmon Valley public library:
Seed Library Information Sessions
Saturday, February 18, 11am-Noon
Saturday, March 11, 11am-Noon
Wednesday, April 12, 5 pm-6 pm
Join us for an overview of the White Salmon Community Seed Library. We’ll talk about planning for seed saving and offer tips for saving seeds of dry-fruited crops like lettuce, greens, radishes, peas, and beans. Seeds will be available to check out. No registration is necessary.
