Seed lending library coming to Preston Idea Exchange
The Idea Exchange in Preston is starting its own seed lending library, in hopes of offering free, easy access to heirloom and non-GMO plant varieties.
"We're going to be starting with vegetables and flowers. All the seeds that we're starting with have been donated by Seeds of Diversity. So they're primarily going to be heirloom varieties, chemical-free seeds," said Emma Campbell, who co-created the program at the Preston branch.
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It's a natural extension of both the community garden program at that branch, and the library's expanding mandate.
"Libraries are so much more than books these days. We have so much that's outside of books. We have guitars and virtual reality goggles. So seeds is another great thing."
Seeds to be returned
Like borrowing a book, Campbell hopes the seeds will be returned, at the end of the growing season.
"We're hoping that it will be a self-sustaining project and that not only will people take, but then they will save seeds from what they've grown and donate back to the library for other people to take," she said.
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Workshops on how to curate a home garden will be offered – including one specifically about seed saving.
The seed library officially opens on Jan. 28, with an information session this Saturday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Idea Exchange Queen's Square.