In 2020-21, we provided seeds to 150 individuals, two school projects for a total of 800 seed envelopes, resulting ins a minimum of 4 000 new native plants
In 2021-22, we held 7 cross-city events and mailed seeds to approximately 200 different households, cottages, as well as schools, scout, church and hospice projects, which will result in a minimum of 22 500 new native plants (115 different species)
Help us continue to provide habitat corridors for our wildlife and donate your native plant seeds!
Protecting the integrity and diversity of our local plants is part of the mission of the Seed Library. This is critical because:
Overall, the use of genetically inappropriate plant materials can have unanticipated and cascading negative effects throughout the ecosystem"(1).
A cultivar is a plant that human beings have selected for particular desirable characteristics. Cultivar is short for "cultivated variety". A cultivar can be bred intentionally by human beings, by cross-breeding two species, for example. Or, a cultivar can be a wild plant that we select and propagate because it has certain desirable traits. Cultivars are usually propagated by cuttings or division. As a result, cultivars are typically genetic clones of the parent plant. If a plant has a unique trade name, like 'Blue Fortune', it's usually a cultivar. A plant that has a single "x" in its scientific name, like Monarda x hybrida 'Bergamo', is a type of cultivar called a hybrid.
A plant is said to be "of the straight species" when it occurs naturally and has not been selected by human beings for any particular traits. Straight species can have natural variations in their traits. For example, bloodroot is usually white, but pink varieties can also be found in the wild.
The Library only accepts plants that are straight species. If you are not sure if your plant comes from a cultivar or not, or if there is a possibility that the seeds have mixed with cultivars, please do not donate.
Please read the following instructions before collecting seeds:
Watch presentations by Tim Alamenciak and by Bob Wildfong (Seeds of Diversity) to get an overview of the process of collecting, storing and growing native plants.
Need help harvesting? Please contact us
Please read the following instructions before donating seeds:
Have questions? Please contact us