Seed Library

The logo of FPL seed librarySeed Libraries are a joint project of the Framingham Public Library and Transition Framingham. Our mission is to empower local residents to preserve the art of growing our own food through the lending, sharing, and saving of seeds, and related programming at the library. We have two Seed Libraries: one at the Main Library and one at the McAuliffe Branch.

 

News and Upcoming Events

photo of Bounty from our efforts display case

Re-opening at both Libraries on March 2! The Seed Lending Library has scheduled three seed-packaging “parties” in preparation for their re-opening and is looking for volunteers.

  • Monday February 11, 1-3pm, Main Library, Children’s Craft Room
  • Thursday February 14, 7-8:30pm, McAuliffe Branch Library, Craft Room
  • Wednesday February 27, 7-8:30pm, Main Library, Children’s Craft Room

Take a look at our list of new books on canning and preserving in our catalog.

 

Samela Aguirre and Patrick St. Pierre of Transition Framingham explain the Seed Libraries in this brief video.

 

Seed Library Resources

Phenology Chart

Phenology Chart

Companion Planting

Companion planting chart

Seed Saving Tips

seed saving tips poster

Seed Library 2018

Library seed catalog poster

Cookbooks at the Library

 

If no image appears, here's a link to the list of cookbooks.

Gardening Books at the Library

 

If no image appears, here's a link to the list of gardening books.

Guidelines for Donations to the Seed Library

If you would like to donate seeds to the seed library there are seed bags and blank inserts located on the seed catalog at the main library and at the McAuliffe Library. Or you can give your seeds to library staff and we will repackage them. Thank you so much!

  • Save from healthy plants. Helps produce disease resistant plants.
  • Save from a number of plants. Gives the crop genetic diversity. The number depends on the type of plant. Self-pollinating plants like tomatoes requires a minimum of six plants. Cross-pollinating plants like corn require a much larger population.
  • Open-pollinated. Please harvest seeds from an open-pollinated variety.
  • Isolate cross pollinators. Isolation means preventing pollen from plants within the same species from co-mingling. This keeps the seed “true-to-type” so that it will grow the exact same plant again. Isolate varieties by planting them far enough away from each other. Check here for an explanation and a guide from Seed Savers Exchange.
  • Dry. Make sure seeds are dry before putting in bags.
  • Clean. Have seeds cleaned by removing as much of chaff as possible.
  • Label. Please fill in as much information as you can about the seed. Crop, variety, age, planting information.

Thanks again!

*Information for this guide was gathered from West County Community Seed Exchange in California and Round Valley Public Library in California.

What patrons have grown with our seeds