Seed Libraries in Dundas
By Dianne Millar, DHS member
There are eight Seed Libraries in Dundas that provide a wide variety of seeds free of charge. Action 13 stocks 6 seed libraries around town:
DVSA
St. Mark’s Church Community Garden, 38 Parkside Avenue
Yorkview Elementary School, 11 Tweedsmuir Ave.
33 Woodward Ave.
Hamilton Public Library, Dundas Branch, courtesy of Green Venture
35 Jerome Park Dr, hosted by the family at that address.
There are six Seed Libraries in our community supplied and maintained by Action 13
Why are Seed Libraries a good idea?
While the main attraction for most people is free seeds, Action 13 (the Community Climate Action group based in Ward 13) hosts these libraries as a way to increase biodiversity, encourage local food production and contribute to soil health. We know it can be difficult to find suppliers of many of our native plants and sharing seed increases access to hard-to-find plants that benefit our ecosystem, support pollinators and increases the adaptability of our community to the climate crisis.
How does a Seed Library work?
Much like a Little Book Library, the Seed Libraries are small structures on a pole outside a building and are accessible 24/7. Seeds are collected, cleaned and packaged in small envelopes by a team of volunteers and placed in the Library through the spring, summer and fall. Anyone is welcome to take packages of seed and are encouraged to donate extra seed, or seed harvested from their own vegetable, herb or Ontario native plants to the libraries or to me directly (see below for seed species stocked and how to donate)
What species of seeds are given away in the seed libraries?
It depends on the season! 50 or so types of vegetable and herb seeds are put in the libraries from March (for indoor sowing) through to September (cool crop seeds). We try to ensure vegetable seeds are from heirloom or varieties known to grow true to their mother plant, or are direct from seed companies (ie donated half-packages of brand name seed).
In the late fall, we stock “true” Ontario native plant seeds that require cold stratification and those that can be directly sown get stocked in the early spring.
We typically have over 60 species of Ontario native plants available through our libraries.
We focus on Ontario native seeds that are not cultivars, in order to promote known benefits to pollinators.
How do I know when new seeds are added to the Seed Libraries?
Updates are posted on Instagram and Facebook: @13foraction. Action 13 workshops (eg. winter sowing) and events (like Speakers and Repair Cafes) are posted there too. You can learn even more about the seed libraries at www.action13.ca/projects
How can I contribute seed?
Seeds can be placed in labelled paper envelopes and dropped off inside any of our seed libraries, but we enjoy connecting with a face and a name! Feel free to contact Action 13 directly with any questions or offers of seed donations. You can ask to be put in touch with me, Dianne Millar. (You can also ask for Dianne at Dundas Horticultural Society meetings! -- Ed.)
Many thanks to Dianne Millar for this article on Seed Libraries in Dundas! If you have a story for our blog, reach out to dundashort@gmail.com
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