Did you know you can check out seeds from the Library? For all you budding horticulturists, the Library offers many resources to help our green thumb. From gardening classes to lists of recommended books on gardening, our libraries have you covered!
Seeds are the latest trend among non-book items available, and people have truly enjoyed starting their own gardens by growing their favorite vegetables, herbs, or flowers. In addition to the vast selection of vegetables and herbs, the Huntington Beach Seed Library features seasonal collections called the “Seed Librarian’s Pick.” Every quarter, generous local companies donate seeds for our patrons to check out, including heirloom varieties and seasonal flowers such as Marigolds. At the end of the season, patrons have the option of letting a few plants go to seed and donate them back to the Library for others to use. Not only is this sustainable, but it creates a diverse stock of seeds for our community to use. Here’s how a “seed library” works:
- Visit the Central Library or any of the four library branches in Huntington Beach. At Central, the Seed Library is located by the Information Desk on the main floor.
- Choose up to 6 seed packets per month.
- Take your seed packets to the Information Desk or Borrower Services Desk and the Librarian will check the seeds out for you.
- You don’t need to return the seeds, although we do encourage seed sharing!
- There are no due dates and you will never accrue any late fees.
- Repeat every 30 days.
The Huntington Beach Seed Library has its own webpage, full of helpful online information and gardening tips. There you will find links to other local like-minded organizations, such as the Shipley Nature Center or the Sherman Library and Gardens, information resources from the leading horticultural experts, and links to upcoming TV shows or articles of particular interest to the gardening community. You can also find a list of books with topics ranging from seed saving to the science of gardening. The Library also has an expansive gardening collection of physical books.
In addition, the Library offers classes on gardening at the Central Library and some of the branches. Past topics have included introductions to basic gardening techniques for beginners and how to start growing seeds with biodegradable pots. To find out about upcoming classes on gardening, check out the Library’s online Events Calendar.
In November, the Oak View branch will host an installment of the popular ”Growing Garden” series featuring terrariums. Join us on Wednesday, November 9, at 6:00 p.m. If you can’t attend on weekdays, the Main Street Branch will offer a weekend session on Saturday, December 3, at 11:00 a.m. Registration is required for both events.
The TeenSpace at the Central Library welcomes volunteers between the ages of 13 and 18 to help sort and package the seeds donated to the Seed Library. Upcoming workshops will take place on the third Saturday of the month between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. in the Central Library’s Talbert Room. To become a Seed Library volunteer, please submit an online application to the Teen Librarian at [email protected].
Lastly, the Library would like to share some photos of the garden you grew with seeds from our Seed Library! Please post them to Instagram at #hbplseedlibrary or e-mail the [email protected], attention Seed Library. We would truly enjoy seeing how our wonderful community has benefited from taking advantage of the many opportunities and services available at our libraries in Huntington Beach.
