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Community seed libraries

Hennepin County Library has partnered with local area seed organizations to establish seed libraries at Eden Prairie, Hosmer, Nokomis, and St. Louis Park libraries.

We established the seed libraries to:

  • Teach/learn more about gardens, foods, and health
  • Uphold the important principle of public ownership of seed and plant materials
  • Provide a public source of seeds for residents so that they may grow their own healthy food
  • Increase knowledge of gardening and home horticulture
  • Increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Build community by engaging residents in a positive shared experience
  • Support new immigrants and refugees in sustaining their cultures and communities with access to seed for the crops they are accustomed to eating
  • Affirm the agricultural experience of many new refugee and immigrant families by providing access to seed and educational resources

We rely on donations from partner organizations as well as harvested seeds in the fall from local growers to keep the seed library plentiful.

Using the seed libraries

Patrons are welcome to browse the seed libraries, which are located in special seed catalogs at Eden Prairie, Hosmer, Nokomis, and St. Louis Park libraries. Take only what you need, and at the end of the season, please consider saving your seeds to donate back to the seed library for someone else to enjoy.

Donating seeds

We accept all kinds of seed donations of both commercially packaged and saved seed.

To protect beneficial insects in our community, we ask that donated seeds be free of chemical pesticides. If the donation is saved seed, we ask donors to fill out a form, providing information such as variety, harvest year and location, and growing notes. Bring your clean and dried seeds to one of the seed libraries, attach a donation form, and drop in the designated donation box.

Events

A woman holds seed packets.

Seed sorting events

Help maintain the seed libraries by sorting and labeling donated seeds.

View events

Home and garden events

Learn new ways to care for your home and garden.

View events

Community partners

University of Minnesota Extension - Hennepin County Master Gardeners

Eden Prairie Library and St. Louis Park's local partner, Hennepin County Master Gardeners, have been serving the county since 1977. They bring research-based horticultural information to the community through adult and youth educational activities.

Plant-Grow-Share

Hosmer Library’s partner, a grassroots food sovereignty program of the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) in South Minneapolis.

Seed Sages

Nokomis Library’s partner, an educational endeavor that offers seed services in the Midwest and beyond.

Contact us

Email us for more information at SeedLibraries@hclib.org.