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Webinar Series: How to Start a Seed Library at
Your Public Library
April 11, 2013 2:00pm EDT
Our Mission
The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice.
Program Areas: Redefining the Dream Beyond Consumerism Collaborative Communities
An institution that lends or shares seeds! • U.S.: 60 seed libraries in 23 states (and counting!)
What is a Seed Library?
Credit: San Francisco Seed Library
Today’s Speakers
• Stephanie Syson Manager Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (Basalt, CO)
• Justine Hernandez Seed Librarian
Pima County Public Library (Tucson, AZ)
• Kelly Becker Seed Library Coordinator La Crosse Public Library (La Crosse, WI)
Basalt Seed Library Project
Opened: January 23, 2013
City: Basalt, CO
Structure: Nonprofit + Public Library Partnership
Packets checked out so far: 1500
Number of Locations: 1
Staff: 2 part-time
Pima County Seed Library
Opened: January 28, 2012
City: Tucson, AZ
Structure: Public Library
Packets checked out so far: 8000
Number of Locations: 7
Staff: 2 full-time, 2 part-time
La Crosse Seed Library
Opened: February 23, 2013
City: La Crosse, WI
Structure: Public Library
Packets checked out so far: 350
Number of Locations: Various
Staff: 2 part-time
Let’s Begin!
• Brief Presentations • Stephanie Syson • Justine Hernandez • Kelly Becker
• More Resources
• Questions for Speakers • Please chat questions
privately to Leaders & Assistants during webinar
• Slides and recording will be available online starting next week
Basalt Seed Library
Basalt Seed Library
Getting Started • Partnership • Implementation • Launch Party
Going Forward • Seed Garden • Community Buy-in
A Partnership
A Library • Community Meeting Room • Seeds are Public • Organizational Skills
An Agricultural Nonprofit • Knowledge of Plants & Seeds • Access to Volunteers • Continued Support
Implementation
Gather Materials • Seeds • Baskets • Packets & Labels
Gather Volunteers! • Seed Sorting Parties • Pot Luck Style
Launch Party!
January 23rd, 2013 • Press – Print & Radio • E-Mails • Flyers
The Event • Intro & Tour • Video of Vandana Shiva • Potluck & Music • Raffle • Seed Swap
Going Forward
Foreseeable Challenges • Maintaining the Inventory • Seed Saving Education
A New Partnership • CRMPI • The Town of Basalt
Seed Garden • Regional Adaptation • Education • Public Outreach • Local Seed Source
Seed Library of Pima County Public Library
We are…
Pima County, AZ • Roughly 9,000 square miles of Sonoran Desert • Culturally diverse popula?on of ~989,569 Public Library • 27 Branches throughout Pima County: metro-‐Tucson & rural Seed Library • 7 Seed Library loca?ons: 6 metro & 1 rural • Seeds are catalogued and searchable online • Reservable • 6 packet limit per month with library card
A Growing Interest… In the spring of 2011 a seed was planted
Taking our cues from our community • Community gardens • Farmers’ markets
Getting Started: Creating a Web of Support Sister seed libraries • Richmond Grows • Westcliffe Seed Library
Leverage Community Resources • GeWng “experts” in the community on board
Getting Started: Creating a Web of Support Community advisory groups • Gardening groups • Experienced seed savers
Create volunteer base
Funding: Seed Money…
State library grant, first year start-‐up of $5000
• Supplies: envelopes, labels, books, seed saving & cleaning materials
• Training: Seed 101 with Na?ve Seeds/SEARCH for staff and volunteers
• SWAG: PCPL Seed Library Buaons using teen created logo!
…and Seeds
Solicited dona?ons from Na?onal and local seed companies • Baker Creek • Seed Savers Exchange • High Mowing Organic Seeds • Bounty Beyond Belief
Dona?ons from local seed savers
Access: Search & Reserve Online Easy, Medium, & Advanced
Access: Check-out
Access: Just Dig In
People Power
Staff • Repacking seeds • Cataloging • Outreach • Educate
Volunteers • Repacking seeds • Outreach: Farmers’
Markets, Docents • Monitor & maintain
collec?on
The Physical Space Repurposed • Card catalogs, filing cabinets, makeshif drawers
Informa?onal • Books, plan?ng guides, how-‐to, seed saving guides, events
Opening the Doors
January of 2012 • 5 branches • ~4000 packets to start
January 2013 • 7 Branches • ~7000 seeds have checked-‐out • ~430 varie?es of seeds • Seeds are being returned!
Building Community: Connect Facilita?ng opportuni?es for people to engage, connect and support • Seed repacking, farmers’ market, community gardening events,
family events
Building Community: Engage Finding crea?ve ways to bring seeds and people together
Building Community: Support
Sharing stories
Embracing the Growing Community of Seed Libraries and Seed Savers
Being a part of the ongoing discourse • Seed Library Social Network @
ww.seedlibraries.org • Seed Savers Exchange-‐ Fora • Na?onal Heirloom Expo—Seed
Summit • Community Advisory Groups • Gardening Community
La Crosse Seed Library
Getting Started
Research 2012 • Richmond Grows, CA • Pima County, AZ
Testing the Water • Partnered with one of our Reference Librarians who is involved with some of the local Sustainability groups • Held a Perennial Exchange to publicize opening 2013
Getting Started Educating Ourselves • Seed Savers Exchange • Seed saving classes • Advisory Committee
How can we make this happen? • Applied for a grant through the La Crosse Community Foundation • Applied for a Seed Saving Toolkit from Seed Matters
Tackling Logistics
When to open? • Date/growing season
Where and How? • Self serve or controlled check-out • Packets or bulk • Storage considerations • Labeling format
Tackling Logistics
Acquiring Seeds • Choosing seed varieties • How many seeds • Where from?
Supporting Workshops • Topics • Speakers • Plan orientation sessions
Tackling Logistics Publicity • Seed Library Poster • Brochure • Workshop Schedule • Orientation Schedule • Library Display
Orientation • Register • Seed saving considerations • Get seeds
Opening the Doors Opening Day 2013 • Kick-off Speaker • Media • Garden clubs • Posters in targeted locations
After • Speak at community organizations • Network, network, network! • Changes
Getting in Touch
• Stephanie Syson [email protected] Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
• Justine Hernandez [email protected]
Pima County Public Library
• Kelly Becker [email protected] La Crosse Public Library
More Resources New Dream’s Community Action Kit
Guide to Sharing: guidetosharing.org
More Resources
• Seed Savers Exchange: www.seedsavers.org • The Seed Library Social Network:
www.seedlibraries.org • Organic Seed Alliance: www.seedalliance.org • Saving Our Seeds (Mid-Atlantic & South):
www.savingourseeds.org
Other seed libraries worth checking out: • Richmond Grows (Richmond, CA) • Manitou Springs Seed Library (Manitou Springs, CO) • Chicago Seed Library (Chicago, IL)
More Resources Pima County Seed Library Brochures
Questions?
Thank You!
Next Steps • Webinar survey –
Watch for it! • Recording and
resources available online next week
• Join New Dream’s mailing list
• Go forth and start your seed library! (and tell us about it)
Contact New Dream • E-mail Wen Lee: [email protected]
