Now is the perfect time to start planning those summer gardens and the Door County Seed Library invites everyone to stop in to check out their new stock! The Seed Library is a volunteer-run seed and garden education program that offers the community free open-pollinated vegetable, flower, herb, and native seeds. Adding new beautiful blooms or produce varieties to your garden is now as simple as a visit to the library.
With a goal to encourage others to establish a garden and to bring them together to share seeds, the Seed Library was started by Door County Master Gardener Volunteer, Penne Wilson. Wilson, alongside many volunteers, remains dedicated to keeping the seed drawers freshly stocked. Recently, they received a $2,000 grant to purchase seeds in addition to a large donation of assorted packets to add to the collection.
“Monday we got a huge donation from the seed company and those were brought over here and I sorted those out in the cabinet,” said Laura Kayacan, the Adult Services Librarian at the Door County Library in Sturgeon Bay, “we’ve got thousands of seeds.”
The cabinet contains an impressive assortment of seeds ranging from carrots, melons, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and different types of flowers, but Kayacan said it also features a rather special offering.
“My favorite’s the Ken Paschke beans because they’ve been grown here in Door County for so many years and now they’re considered official Door County adaptable beans,” said Kayacan, “I love growing them and they grow very easily.”
Ken Paschke, a Door County Farmer, has been growing the beans for the last 60 years and created the new variety that thrives in the area’s unique soil conditions.
“We hope to get them picked up soon because the weather’s changing and it’s going to be nice out and people should be thinking about planting vegetables and flowers and having a healthy lifestyle here in Door County,” said Kayacan.
There is no cost for selecting seeds at the library and it works just like checking out books - but instead, it’s with seeds. Simply sign up for a free library membership, browse the seed collection and then bring some home to plant. The packets are all conveniently labeled and are well-organized. There’s also multiple locations for the Seed Library and in addition to Sturgeon Bay, other participating libraries include Baileys Harbor, Forestville, Egg Harbor, and Sister Bay/Liberty Grove.
“It’s amazing how many people come in and look at this,” said Kayacan.
The seed inventories vary throughout the growing season but its availability also stems from generous donations. Those interested in contributing to the Seed Library can bring in clean seeds in a labeled, well-sealed envelope and drop them off with the Seed Donation form available at participating branches.
For more information or to get involved with the initiative, visit www.doorcountyseedlibrary.org.
