Grafton Public Library

Seed Library

for screen readers: Grafton's seed library is housed in an antique card catalog

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
~Marcus Tullius Cicero (d. 43BC)

We are excited to, as part of the fulfillment of our LEED certification, to nurture a community of native and organic plant gardeners by providing a seed collection and exchange through the Library! The seed library debuted in Spring 2022; we have a variety of seeds for herbs, flowers and vegetables that would do well in the May-October growing season in the 5b to 7a growing zones of New England. Check back often–we’ll be adding new seeds during the season!

Our Goals

  • Provide free seeds to the community from seed companies and occasional seeds from gardeners who’ve saved seeds from plants that thrive in our local area.
  • Encourage the use of native, heirloom, open-pollinated and organic seeds.
  • Encourage gardeners to save seed and donate seed back to the Seed Library from successful varieties of plants they have grown.
  • Educate our community on topics related to gardening, ecology, food and nutrition, health and wellness and the environment.
  • Promote the importance of organic gardening for our health and the health of our planet.
  • Increase awareness of and mitigate food scarcity

How the Seed Library Works

1. Choose a maximum of 2 free seed packets per visit
2. Follow the link on the back of the seed packet for growing instructions and plant the seeds in your garden.
3. Donate any leftover seeds back in the original packet.
4. Water, weed, and wait!
5. Harvest seeds from successful flowers and produce and thoroughly air dry them.
6. Place harvested in the envelopes provided, label and return to the Seed Library so others can grow them next year (optional).

Orphan seeds from local gardeners who have extras will be made available to gardeners who need extra in our informal seed exchange.

Initial seed offerings include:

  • peas
  • sunflowers
  • red pepper
  • cantaloupe
  • winter spinach
  • broccoli
  • decorative cabbage
  • mums
  • pumpkins

The Seed Library is located in the Historic Reading Room in our antique card catalog. Each packet contains a few seeds and a link to growing instructions to start your own plants. Most seeds can be sowed directly into your prepared soil.

For information on gardening, please visit the 635 section of the nonfiction collection or check out the Gale Database Collection on Gardening & Horticulture for articles and ebooks.

Donating Organizations

Thank you to the following organizations for their seed donations! Your generosity has been instrumental in establishing our program.