Seed library: Difference between revisions
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* seed "lending," in which people check out seed from the library's collection, grow them, save the seed, and return seed from the propagated plants to the library |
* seed "lending," in which people check out seed from the library's collection, grow them, save the seed, and return seed from the propagated plants to the library |
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Seed libraries may function as programs of regular libraries, such as the program of the [[Richmond Public Library]] in California;<ref name="Boing Boing"/> or museums, such as the Hull-House Heirloom Seed Library, a program of the [[Jane Addams Hull-House Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/_programsevents/_kitchen/_seedlibrary/seedlibrary.html |title=Hull House Seed Library |work=uic.edu }}</ref> Some have developed as programs of [[botanical garden]]s, such as that of the [[VanDusen Botanical Garden]], or from gardening associations and research institutes, such as the Heritage Seed Library of [[Garden Organic]]. Other seed libraries have evolved from community sustainability or resilience efforts, such as the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (the United States' oldest seed library, which developed from the [[Berkeley, California]] Ecology Center); and still others from the [[Slow Food]] movement, such as Grow Gainesville's seed program. |
Seed libraries may function as programs of regular libraries, such as the program of the [[Richmond Public Library (California)]] in California;<ref name="Boing Boing"/> or museums, such as the Hull-House Heirloom Seed Library, a program of the [[Jane Addams Hull-House Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/_programsevents/_kitchen/_seedlibrary/seedlibrary.html |title=Hull House Seed Library |work=uic.edu }}</ref> Some have developed as programs of [[botanical garden]]s, such as that of the [[VanDusen Botanical Garden]], or from gardening associations and research institutes, such as the Heritage Seed Library of [[Garden Organic]]. Other seed libraries have evolved from community sustainability or resilience efforts, such as the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (the United States' oldest seed library, which developed from the [[Berkeley, California]] Ecology Center); and still others from the [[Slow Food]] movement, such as Grow Gainesville's seed program. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 01:10, 20 October 2012
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Openforbusiness.jpg/220px-Openforbusiness.jpg)
A seed library is an institution that lends or shares seed. It is distinguished from a seedbank in that the main purpose is not to store or hold germplasm or seeds against possible destruction, but to disseminate them to the public which preserves the shared plant varieties through propagation and further sharing of seed.[1] Seed libraries usually maintain their collections through donations from members.[2] but may also operate as pure charity operations intent on serving gardeners and farmers.[3] A common attribute of many seed libraries is to preserve agricultural biodiversity by focusing on rare, local, and heirloom seed varieties.[4]
Seed libraries use varied methods for sharing seeds, primarily by:
- seed swaps, in which library members or the public meet and exchange seeds
- seed "lending," in which people check out seed from the library's collection, grow them, save the seed, and return seed from the propagated plants to the library
Seed libraries may function as programs of regular libraries, such as the program of the Richmond Public Library (California) in California;[3] or museums, such as the Hull-House Heirloom Seed Library, a program of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.[5] Some have developed as programs of botanical gardens, such as that of the VanDusen Botanical Garden, or from gardening associations and research institutes, such as the Heritage Seed Library of Garden Organic. Other seed libraries have evolved from community sustainability or resilience efforts, such as the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (the United States' oldest seed library, which developed from the Berkeley, California Ecology Center); and still others from the Slow Food movement, such as Grow Gainesville's seed program.
References
- ^ Wang, Joy C. "A Seed Library for Heirloom Plants Thrives in the Hudson Valley". The New York Times.
- ^ MacVean, Mary (June 18, 2011). "Seeds of hope and change". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b "Seed Libraries Crop Up". BoingBoing. April 2, 2012.
- ^ Hageman, William (March 23, 2012). "Nurturing plant legacies: Two groups lend seeds and plants to gardeners". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Hull House Seed Library". uic.edu.
External Links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Local Seeds Atlas
- Seed Libraries (MiiU wiki Seed Libraries entry)
- Our Seeds (seed library wiki)
- The Seedshed Project
- The Seed Library of Los Angeles
- Richmond Seed Library
- Hudson Valley Seed Library, New York