by Shelby Cohen, Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District

Greater Greenville Master Gardeners have volunteered to sort and repackage seed and deliver workshops The Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District has teamed up with the Greenville County Library System to establish the county's first seed library. A free, accessible, source of flower and food seeds ready for planting, the Seed Library at the Berea Branch is also designed to provide education on growing food, flowers and native plants; to increase local food production and promote healthy diets and to help preserve plant diversity with heirloom seeds.

Set to open on February 23rd, the Seed Library will be housed at the Berea (Sarah Dobey Jones) Branch Library. This project will not only provide free, easy access to seeds year-round, but will also be the focal point of monthly workshops on water and soil health, heirloom varieties, backyard conservation practices, container growing, seed saving and more. The seed library will offer 60 different varieties of seed and will have a bookshelf full of food-related titles nearby. The seeds were all donated and have been sorted, separated by type, packaged, and clearly labeled with information and instructions by Greater Greenville Master Gardeners and the Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District. 

The seed library will offer 60 different varieties of seed and a bookshelf full of food-related titles nearby Users of the seed library can simply open a drawer and select up to ten seed packets. Patrons are asked to help keep the seed library stocked by showing their selections to library staff, who will note the seeds chosen. Patrons will also be provided with the opportunity to get a library card and receive helpful growing resources for the seeds selected. The seeds can then be taken home to plant and enjoy!

We'd like to recognize the following companies and organizations who have donated seed for the kickoff: Sow True Seed, Slow Food Upstate, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange and High Mowing Organic Seeds.

For more information about the Seed Library at the Berea Branch, visit www.greenvillelibrary.org/seed-library, or check out the Facebook event post.