Seeds of Knowledge and Growth

LIBRARIES ARE A GREAT PLACE TO EXCHANGE SEEDS AND 

EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY OF GROWERS

Libraries are not only places for people to check out books. They also serve as community centers for reading, studying, meetings, children’s activities, accessing technology, and much more. Public and academic libraries in the Berkshires—such as Sawyer Library at Williams College, Freel Library at MCLA, Adams Free Library, and Berkshire Athenaeum—have what is called a “seed library,” a collection of seeds that people can “check out.” 

Seed libraries educate, build community, and provide seeds to anyone who is interested. They also raise awareness and spread joy around seeds and growing. These strengths sound a lot like the strengths of traditional libraries—and a good reason to have seed libraries located there. The idea is that when the plants flower and go to seed, the seeds are collected and some are deposited back into the seed library. Returning seeds isn’t necessarily a requirement, although it is encouraged at most seed libraries. 

“Seeds are a form of knowledge, storytelling, and contain life,” says May Beattie, Sawyer circulation desk coordinator at Sawyer Library. “Providing access to seeds is a way to invite patrons into new forms of knowledge-making. Local seed libraries also have the ability to develop seed genetics that are resilient in our microclimate, as they are saved year after year. Local ecology can diversify when there is greater access to native species. Patrons can also learn to grow their own food.” 

The modern seed library has been around for 25 years, first started in Berkeley, California, although it is a relatively new thing in the Berkshires. It shouldn’t be confused with seed banks, which are repositories that hold seeds for the future. 

Seed libraries are meant to get seeds to as many gardeners as possible to be grown each year, not only to preserve the varieties, but also to adapt them to the local climate and conditions, if needed. Seed libraries also provide resources (books, for instance) and offer classes and other activities. 

At Sawyer Library, a beautiful wooden cabinet is found across from the circulation desk. It once housed index cards to catalog library materials. Since 2022, The Williams Seed Library has been home to hundreds of seeds catalogued according to plant type and ready for the taking. 

Nadine Nance, head of access services at Sawyer Library, solicited help from the community to gather seeds, including local farms such as Whitney Farm in Cheshire and Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, New York. Nance has a team of Access Services colleagues who enthusiastically help sort, organize, document, and handle the daily management of The Williams Seed Library. Anyone is welcome to take seeds and, in true spirit of a seed library, community members may contribute seeds to the seed library, which is open for all to use anytime Sawyer Library is, no library card required. 

Beginning in early spring, The Williams Seed Library had a good supply of seeds available for folks who want to plant earlier. It accepts donations of open-pollinated seeds (no hybrids) and prefers organic seeds. Nance asks to please collect as much information as possible about the seed variety to help people the next year know what they are getting. Patented seeds or varieties protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act aren’t accepted. 

“The libraries are staffed with people who love to garden,” says Nance. “We simply wanted to create something that would support and encourage folks to get their hands dirty and grow things that will help beautify and nourish our planet and our community.” 

The donation process is simple: There is a basket with pre-stamped envelopes on top of the seed catalog. Seed “borrowers” can take the envelopes and return them filled with the seeds they have gathered from their gardens or leftovers to the circulation desk. The library has a research guide that posts helpful tips and videos on how to gather seeds for future propagation. 

The Williams Seed Library has distributed more than 660 seed packets, mostly to Williams faculty and staff, as well as some students who have garden plots on campus. The Williams College Community Garden promotes the seed library with its members, and the word has spread from there. The most popular seeds are the bee pollinator mix by far, followed by marigold, sunflower, nasturtiums, tomatoes, carrot, peas, radish, and dill. There is interest in adding tree seeds or other native plants that require cold storage, but they have yet to find the right way to make this available.

Alishia Alther, technical services specialist at MCLA’s Freel Library, started The MCLA Seed Library in 2019. In the beginning, the library bought the initial seeds. Now, it is supplied almost entirely by donations of commercial seeds and saved seeds from community members. During Covid, they mailed seeds to students. Last year, they used some of the college’s Wellness Center grant to buy herbal and native seeds. 

The seed library is free and open year-round to students, faculty, staff and the broader community. (Please take no more than 10 packets.) Like Sawyer Library, it is fully restocked in March. The MCLA Seed Library has supported several initiatives in the past, including a seed packet decorating event, a seed saving event, and a logo contest amongst MCLA students where the design by Delano Mills was selected. New for 2025 are native offerings that include echinacea (purple coneflower), milkweed, and New Jersey tea; and herbal offerings that include chamomile and St. John's Wort. There are description cards for each type of seed available, and patrons are encouraged to take a picture of the card for growing instructions, or write useful information in the notes section of the seed packets that are taken. 

This year, The MCLA Seed Library is a part of the Common Seed Project, initiated by seed libraries in and around the Massachusetts Pioneer Valley. Inspired by "common read" programs that bring people together through shared reading experiences, Common Seed builds community through gardening and seed saving. Each year, they select a “common seed,” and participants across Western Massachusetts receive free seeds from participating libraries, along with access to local events, workshops, and resources. This year’s seed is the Provider bean—perfect for gardeners of all levels. 

Jessie Gamm is the full-time aid cataloguer at Adams Free Library. Her duties also include overseeing the seed library since its inception last year. No library card is needed, and seeds are available to everyone. They welcome donations of unopened seed packets bought at reputable garden stores. This year, when the seed library reopened on March 21, they had even more seeds, thanks to donations from distributors like American Meadows, Eden Brothers, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., Bentley Seed Co., and Toadshade Wildflower Farm. Seeds included fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, as well as many mixed wildflower packets. 

The seed library is open as long as supplies last—when they’re all gone, Gamm will put a sign up that the seed library is “in hibernation” until next year. A few weeks into the new seed library cycle, Jen Munoz with the nonprofit Growing Healthy Garden Program held a lecture on container planting at the library. 

The Berkshire Seed Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield’s Public Library, opened for the season on March 22 with a special event that included a handful of community partners showcasing their gardening resources, such as Roots Rising and Greenagers. Anyone with a valid library card can "check out" up to 10 packets of seeds through the fall, which is when the seed library closes for the season. 

“I put ‘checking out’ in quotations because there is no expectation to return seeds; you can just take your seeds and leave it at that,” says Olivia Bowers, the library’s Adult Services and Programming supervisor. “However, if you would like to donate your seeds back to the Athenaeum, we are happy to take them! We have a robust collection of seeds to choose from, but if you come later in the year, you may see less options.” 

The Berkshire Seed Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. Seed packets are assembled by library staff, who write on each packet the variety of the seed, the best month to plant, and the best practices for planting. Quantity of seeds in each packet varies by the size of the seeds and their yield, but there’s always enough for a small garden. 

“If you borrow seeds from the library, we are always happy to see your results!” Bowers says. “We appreciate pictures of what becomes of our seeds, and with permission, we share them on social media.”