The Crawfordsville District Public Library and the Master Gardeners of Montgomery County are excited to announce the opening of their collaborative project, the Crawfordsville Seed Library. The Crawfordsville Seed Library will have newly packaged, fresh seeds available to area residents beginning Saturday.
The seed library is a treasure trove for local gardeners, offering an assortment of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to grow. We constantly expand our collection, with more native plants and flowering seeds joining us. And the best part? Different seeds and species will continue to be added throughout the season, so there is always something new to discover.
Seed packets provide samplings of different varieties and vegetables for gardeners to add to their growing areas. Participants may select a maximum of ten packets per year to allow everyone to choose seeds. Groups needing many seeds for their classes or projects should contact the seed library for special donations.
This year, the seed library has added a special drawer for Indiana native seeds to emphasize the importance of growing specific plants that promote biodiversity, food sources, and habitats for our local wildlife and pollinators. Also new, a Flower of the Week and a Vegetable of the Week will be featured for patrons to grow.
March will also kick off the Crawfordsville Seed Library’s Learning Series, a fantastic opportunity for all gardening enthusiasts. Every Tuesday throughout the month, we will host a range of programs, from Seed Starting and Soil Blocking to Cooking with Garden Herbs. Registration is now open for all classes on the CDPL website, and we cannot wait to see you there. Growing kits, plant starts, and planning information will be a part of the programs, so you will have everything you need to get started.
This summer, the Seed Library Flower Contest will return in mid-June, and the overwhelmingly popular Sunflower Contest will be in the fall.
Last year, the project provided approximately 5,200 seed packets to gardeners, young and old. Popular seeds included tomato and pepper varieties, sunflowers, cacti, and several different types of squash.
Previous seed library users will notice that the seed file cabinet has moved. The seed cabinet is still on the second floor of CDPL, but a new home has been found on the other side. The new location offers a larger area to explore the seed cabinet and look through growing material. A master list of seeds available is posted on the side of the cabinet for easy reference.
For more information on the Crawfordsville Seed Library or its programs, email CvilleSeedLibrary@gmail.com.
