Gardening

Most of the seeds are generously donated by West Coast Seeds, although we also take locally-collected seeds. Seeds grown using isolation distances and techniques will be added to the seed library for others to take out, while seeds grown without using isolation will be offered with the warning that they may have been cross-pollinated with another plant.

How to use the seed library:

1. Each seed library packet contains just a few seeds. Help yourself to any of the packets, but we ask that you take one just one of each type of plant.
2. Each packet contains growing instructions or they can be found in the slot with the seed packets.
3. Sign out the type of seed you want to grow. If you hope to save seeds, take a seed-saving sheet with information about isolation distances and the different types of saving techniques.
4. We graciously accept donations!
5. The seed library is open during library hours only.

Branch Site

All of our seeds are donated by local gardeners.

How to use the seed library:

1. Browse our seed collection during library hours.
2. Borrow up to three packets of seeds per visit.
3. Fill in our Sign Out Sheet with the date, your first name and number of packets taken.
4. Please donate back to our seed library when you can!

Branch site

All of our seeds are donated by local gardeners and feature organic, heirloom, local varieties.

How to use the seed library:

1. Browse our seed collection during library hours.
2. Borrow up to three packets of seeds per visit.
3. Check off what seeds you’ve taken

Our seeds are purchased by our team at the branch, as well as donated by West Coast Seeds and patron. We also restock our seed library every Friday while donations and supplies last.

How to use the seed library:

1. You can take up to three seed packets per visit. We suggest taking photos of the seed packet (where available) to have the planting and other info at hand.
2. Donate seeds to help keep our library stocked. To donate, please take a seed library donation form or speak with a librarian.

a. Option 1: If you are fairly knowledgeable about things like open pollination, the specific pollination needs of your chosen plant and variety, etc., we would be delighted to have your seed donations.

b. Option 2:  We encourage all members to learn basic seed saving techniques and that beginning seed savers start with plants that are annual, self pollinating (require little to no isolation), and need only a few plants to reliably produce seeds. For example, tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and peppers.

c. Option 3: No idea what you’re doing? Or feeling like seed saving is too much pressure? Bring us the unused parts of seed packets you’ve purchased. Ideally these would be open-pollinated and non-GMO seeds.

Branch site

The Comox Seed Library is a project of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Comox branch with support from other local seed libraries and growers.

Our intentions are to promote food security in our local community through the exchange of locally grown and donated seeds. We believe in making growing as accessible as possible and want to encourage our community to grow and save seeds.

How to use the seed library: 

1. Stop by the Comox Library at 1720 Beaufort Ave.
2. Help yourself to seed packets
3. Plant your “borrowed” seeds in your garden
4. Harvest, try your hand at seeding saving and donate back to the library

We also welcome donations of unused or partially used seed packets dated within the past 3 years.

Branch site

The Courtenay Seed Library is a project of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Courtenay branch in partnership with Lush Valley  and Comox Valley Growers & Seed Savers.

Our intentions are to promote food security in our local community through the exchange of locally grown and donated seeds. We believe in making growing as accessible as possible and want to encourage our community to grow and save seeds.

How to use the seed library: 

1. Stop by the Courtenay Library Branch at 300 6th Street
2. Help yourself to seed packets
3. Plant your “borrowed” seeds in your garden
4. Harvest, try your hand at seeding saving and donate back to the library

Branch site

Our seed library is now OPEN in partnership with Cowichan Food Hub  & Westcoast Seeds.

A local food revolution begins with seeds! The Cowichan Seed Library is an offering to the community, connecting local growers with locally-adapted seeds. We invite all community members to contribute local non-GMO seeds and also to come and take seeds to grow out in their gardens! This is an excellent opportunity to support local seed sovereignty and increase the collective seed bank.

How to use the seed library: 

1. Drop by the branch at 2687 James St in Duncan
2. Sign out up to three packets of seeds at a time
3. Plant your seeds
4. If you can, donate clean, dried seeds that are labelled with the year of harvest (and no more than 2 years old) as well as type and variety.

Branch site

The Cumberland Seed Library is a project of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Cumberland branch with support from other local seed libraries and growers.

Our intentions are to promote food security in our local community through the exchange of locally grown and donated seeds. We believe in making growing as accessible as possible and want to encourage our community to grow and save seeds.

How to use the seed library: 

1. Stop by the Cumberland Library at 2724 Dunsmuir Ave.
2. Help yourself to seed packets
3. Plant your “borrowed” seeds in your garden
4. Harvest, try your hand at seeding saving and donate back to the library

We also welcome donations of unused or partially used seed packets dated within the past 3 years.

Branch site

Our seeds are generously donated by our customers.

How to use the seed library:

1. Browse our seed collection, which is organized alphabetically.
2. Borrow up to three seed packets per visit.
3. Fill in our Sign Out Sheet with the date, your library card number, and the number of packets taken.
4. Please donate back to our seed library when you can.

Branch site

Information coming soon!  Please contact the branch at 250-283-2502 or goldriver@virl.bc.ca to find out how to participate.

Branch site

VISIT: Stop by the Ladysmith Library at 740 First Avenue and browse our seed collection.

BORROW: Help yourself to up to 3 seed packets per library visit.

GROW: Plant your seeds, and watch them grow.

SAVE: Harvest, and save seeds. Not comfortable with saving seeds? That is fine, each part of gardening takes time to learn. You may want to check out some of our books about seed saving to learn more.

DONATE: If you can, donate clean, dried seeds that are labelled with the plant name, variety, and year of harvest. We accept seeds which are no more than 3 years old.

Our seeds have been purchased by our branch team and donated by West Coast Seeds.

How to use the seed library:

1. Start your own Seed Library Sign Out Sheet.
2. Choose up to three seed packets per visit. We suggest taking photos of the seed packet (where available) to have the planting and other info at hand.
3. Record the varieties of seed that you take.
4. Bring back some seed to keep our library stocked and record it on the Seed Library Donor List.

a. Option 1: If you are fairly knowledgeable about things like open pollination, the specific pollination needs of your chosen plant and variety, etc., we would be delighted to have your seed donations!

b. Option 2:  We encourage all members to learn basic seed saving techniques and that beginning seed savers start with plants that are annual, self pollinating (require little to no isolation), and need only a few plants to reliably produce seeds. For example, tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and peppers.

c. Option 3: No idea what you’re doing? Or feeling like that is too much pressure? Bring us the unused parts of seed packets you’ve purchased. Ideally these would be open-pollinated and non-GMO seeds.

Branch site

The Creativity Commons Seed Library is available to all members of our community. Our intentions are to promote food security in our local community through the exchange of locally grown and donated seeds. We believe in making growing as accessible as possible and want to encourage our community to grow and save seeds.

Our seeds were generously donated by West Coast Seeds and members of the gardening/farming community.

How to use the seed library:

1. Stop by the Creativity Commons, upstairs at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch at 90 Commercial St., Nanaimo.
2. Help yourself to up to three seed packets at a time.
3. Plant your seeds in your garden.
4. Harvest your bounty and save some seeds for future years
5. Donate some of your saved seeds for future growers – and pick up more packets!

Not comfortable with saving seeds, that is okay. Food security takes time to learn and master. Please keep an eye on our events page for programs to help you learn.

Donations: 

The Seed Library relies on local seed savers to refill the seeds each year. We graciously accept seeds from local growers.

• Seeds should be under 2 years of age and stored in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight
• Seeds should be labelled with:
  • Name of Species and Cultivar Name e.g. Cherry Tomato. “Red Delight”
  • Year of Harvest

Branch site

A collaborative effort with local gardening groups, the Quadra Seed Library houses donated seeds and saved seeds. All library patrons and visitors are welcome to help themselves to seeds with no strings attached. If a patron is a seed saver – wonderful! – we always welcome seeds. Patrons may record what they have chosen so that the coordinators can see what is popular, but this is not required.

Branch site

Our seeds have been purchased by our branch team and donated by West Coast Seeds.

How to use the seed library:

1. Browse our seed collection.
2. Borrow up to three seed packets per visit.
3. Fill in the Sign Out Sheet.
4. Please donate back to our seed library when you can.

Questions? For more info ask branch staff.

Branch site

Our seed library is in partnership with the Mt. Waddington Community Food Initiative.

How to use the seed library:

1. Choose up to three packets of seeds.
2. Take a resource list, borrow a book or watch a video about gardening.
3. Plant the seeds in your garden.
4. When you harvest your vegetables, fruits, or grains, save some seeds. Rinse your saved seeds and store them in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
5. Bring some saved seeds to the Seed Library to be checked in, and check out more seeds if you want.
6. Have questions? Staff at the front desk will be happy to help.

Branch site

Our seed library is now OPEN! Our seeds have been generously donated by Full Circle Seeds, as well as by members of our community.

How to use the seed library:

1. Choose up to three seed packets per visit.
2. Record the varieties of seed that you take on the Seed Library Sign Out Sheet.
3. Help yourself to gardening and seed saving resource materials.
4. Bring back some seed when you can to keep our library stocked. Bring seed donations to the circulation desk and fill out a donation form for each seed variety donated. See below for information on what we’re looking for in seed donations.

Option 1: If you are fairly knowledgeable about things like open pollination, the specific pollination needs of your chosen plant and variety, etc., we would be delighted to have your seed donations!

Option 2:  We encourage all members to learn basic seed saving techniques and that beginning seed savers start with plants that are annual, self pollinating (require little to no isolation), and need only a few plants to reliably produce seeds. For example, tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and peppers.

Option 3: No idea what you’re doing? Or feeling like that is too much pressure? Bring us the unused parts of seed packets you’ve purchased. Ideally these would be open-pollinated and non-GMO seeds.

We always graciously accept donations to support the seed library!

Please take seeds to the circulation desk and fill out a donation form. If you’ve saved the seeds yourself, you will need to know the seed type, seed variety, and year of harvest.

What we’re looking for in saved-seed donations:

• Seeds should be under 2 years of age
• The seed must be clean – separated from the rest of the plant, free from insects
• The seed must be dry
• The seed must be healthy
• Open-pollinated (non-hybrid, non-GMO) and heirloom seeds.
• Minimum 10 seeds per pack.

We also gratefully accept fresh, commercially grown, open-pollinated (non-hybrid, non-GMO) seed from the last 3 years for donation (half-packs or whole packs).

Branch site

All residents are welcome to take as many packets as they need, and seed donations are welcome any time.

Participants are eligible for garden-themed draws at the branch too!

Branch site