McMaster LibGuides: A Guide to Sustainability: Seed Library

What is a Seed Library?

Our Seed Library is now closed for the 2024 season. Happy Gardening!

A collection of seeds that are available for community members to borrow and grow in their own gardens
- Our Seed Library offers a collection of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds adapted to the local climate and soil conditions
- The offerings for 2024 include seeds provided by Green Venture and West Coast Seeds. Seeds are native and non-GMO.

The purpose of the Seed Library at McMaster University is to promote sustainable food systems, increase biodiversity, and build community resilience. The goals and objectives of the Seed Library include:

Encouraging the use of locally adapted seed varieties - By offering a collection of seeds that are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, the Seed Library will promote the use of plants that are well-suited to the local environment.
Supporting seed saving and preservation - By borrowing seeds from the Seed Library and returning seeds from their own harvests, community members will learn about the importance of seed saving and preservation. This will help to promote biodiversity and ensure that rare and heirloom varieties are not lost.
Building community resilience - The Seed Library will help to build community resilience by providing community members with access to a wide variety of seeds that can be grown in their own gardens. This will promote food security and help to build strong, self-sufficient communities.
Promoting sustainable food systems - By promoting the use of locally adapted seed varieties and supporting seed saving and preservation, the Seed Library will help to promote sustainable food systems that are resilient, diverse, and environmentally friendly.

How to Borrow & Return Seeds

Visit the Seed Library at Thode, Mills or Health Sciences libraries. Here's an overview of the borrowing process:

Browse the Seed Library collection: Decide which seeds you want to "borrow" (up to 5 packages). The Seed Library contains a variety of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds
Fill out a seed borrowing form: You will be asked to provide your name, contact information, and the seeds you're borrowing (variety and quantity)
Borrowing limits: Currently, there is a limit of 5 seed packets per person, per growing season
Seed return: At the end of the growing season, borrowers are encouraged to return seeds from their harvests to the Seed Library collection box. This helps to build the collection and maintain the Seed Library for future seasons

Note on seed viability: While the Seed Library aims to provide high-quality seeds, there is no guarantee that all seeds will germinate. It is the borrower’s responsibility to handle the seeds and provide proper growing conditions.