New West residents will soon be able to check out flower, vegetable and herb seeds from the New Westminster Public Library.
Starting Feb. 11, the New Westminster Public Library will be joining the ranks of several libraries across Canada that have started a seed library.
“We hope people will take some seeds, grow a garden however and wherever they are, then bring some of the seeds they produce back to us for sharing,” says Caitlin MacRae, a librarian at the NWPL and coordinator of the seed library. “Saving seeds is actually fun, free, and a great way to expand your knowledge of gardeningn, while being a part of a larger community effort to go green.”
Users will have free access to a variety of seed types including vegetables, flowers and a variety of herbs.
The idea of a seed library is not new for libraries but it’s a new endeavour for the New Westminster Public Library.
Christopher Koth, the library’s manager of community programs and services, said the library loans out books about gardening, but, after being approached by local community members, it realized there was an amazing opportunity to support city-wide efforts to promote issues around climate action and food security by offering this kind of a service.
The library’s 2021 to 2025 strategic plan emphasizes the City of New Westminster’s Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action as a priority.
“They (seed libraries) very neatly encapsulate a lot of great things that libraries represent — the importance of community, de-commercialization and free resources for all, and education,” said MacRae told the Record in 2022, when announcing a seed library would be set up in New West. “They also meet many community priorities like climate action (more green spaces and gardening is good for all), food security (a pressing issue for many in our community), and community connection.”
Kickoff celebration
Starting Saturday, Feb. 11, gardeners of all types can go to the main branch of the library at 716 Sixth Ave., fill out a short registration form, and then ‘check out’ some seeds. A small number of gardening tools and planting templates are also available for loan, whether folks are planting a small container on a balcony or starting their own garden in a backyard.
Details about the collection are available at www.nwpl.ca/seeds.
To kick off the service, the New Westminster Public Library has partnered with FarmFolk CityFolk and Gardens4Kids to offer an all-ages celebratory Seedy Saturday event.
Taking place on Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., it will feature a range of programming including a number of gardening talks (such as how to build a container garden and how to support pollinators), a special seedy storytime and children’s activities. There will also be an ask-a-gardener booth, a garden gear swap and an introduction to the seed library.
Activities will be happening inside and outside the library (including a visit from food trucks), rain or shine. It’s free, and everyone is invited to attend.
“Above all, we want to encourage people to exercise their curiosity about local gardening of all types, and connect with others who share these interests,” said MacRae.
Anyone wanting more information about the Seed Library or the Seedy Saturday launch events can contact the library at 604-527-4660, email [email protected] or check out the website at www.nwpl.ca/seeds.
