A new library was unveiled inside of the Swampscott Public Library on Saturday morning, but instead of books, this one is full of seeds.
From basil to beans, and corn to hot peppers, people can check out a wide variety of seeds for their personal use from the library. The public library plans to keep the seed library open year round, with seasonal offerings in the works for the fall.
“The seed library is a place where people can come and get free seeds to grow in their yard,” said Lindsey Schotke, a member of Big Blue Bargains who is one of the volunteers helping to run the seed library. “You can essentially check them out. There’s a limit to ensure everybody in the community has a chance to get something.”
Children and their parents looked through the different shelves of the library on Saturday, picking out which fruits and vegetables they would take home and eventually enjoy.
All seeds were donated by numerous gardens and organizations in the area. The seed library is open for anyone, not just Swampscott Library card holders.
“We want to encourage people to grow,” said Schotke. “It’s great for the ecosystem. It’s great for the community. It’s great for food sustainability.”
Anyone who took seeds from the library on Saturday was given a small pot and some soil to help start the process.
The unveiling of the seed library was part of the public library’s Garden Day, which also featured programming where children could learn about gardening basics and native plants.
Swampscott Public Library Adult Programmer Dave Archer said he had noticed a keen interest in plants and gardening around the community, which played a role in the idea behind the seed library.
“I was looking for a big project to do, something to put a little effort into,” said Archer. “Once I got to know Swampscott and the community, the popularity of gardening and native plants, there’s an awareness of the environment here and it seemed like a great fit.”
Archer noted that there were other gardening events in the area on Saturday and hoped to get some “cross-pollination” from visitors of other events.
“It’s just nice for people to be able to take seeds and grow them and test their own green thumb at home for free,” said Archer. “The best part about the library is everything is free.”
Along with testing out gardening skills, Archer said the seed library provides an opportunity for people to eat fruits and vegetables in a cost-friendly way.
“With food shortages and rising costs and everything like that, if you can grow your own food, we’re happy to help you do it,” said Archer. “Its really about accessibility and supporting people who need it and are interested in doing their own work at home.”
