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

  • We have new seeds available at the main Framingham Library and at the McAuliffe Branch. Plant now for a fall crop: Arugula, Asian greens, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard!

  • A Vegetable Showcase: A Seed Lending Library Event, Wednesday, September 4, 7-8 pm, Main Library, Costin Room. Show off your best vegetables at this celebratory tasting event. Whether you have grown them from seed or purchased a plant, bring some to display and share. Make sure to label your vegetables. We will review how to save seeds and share best growing tips.  If you have a favorite vegetable based recipe, bring a copy along with you.

  • We look forward to receiving donations of seeds you have saved, especially dill. 
  • Did you know that we have gardening tools available to borrow as part of our Library of Things? Anyone with a Minuteman card can borrow the kit from the main library for two weeks. It includes a transplant trowel, weeder, hand rake, cultivator/hoe, soil scoop, gloves, and a handy carrying bag. Ask Library staff for more information.

 

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

 

Seed Library Resources

Mulching Chart

Organic Matter Mulching Chart

Companion Planting

Companion planting chart

Seed Saving Tips

seed saving tips poster

Seed Library 2019

Library seed catalog 2019

Cookbooks at the Library

Click here for a list of gardening cookbooks at the Framingham Public Library.

Gardening Books at the Library

Click here for a list of gardening books at the Framingham Public Library.

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