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Hamden Library Seed Library Update – April 2026
Greetings! Thanks to all who have been visiting the Seed Library! We have seen lots of activity and have a good selection of ornamental, herb, and veggie seeds.
There is still a great selection of seeds. Wait too long, though, and you may be disappointed in the remaining selection.
Dates: Whenever Miller Library is open, from February 2 – June 6
Staffed: Thursdays, from 1-4:30 p.m., February 5 – June 4
Saturdays, from 2-4:30 p.m., February 7 – June 6
Seed Library Pop-ups: Our experienced volunteer gardeners who staff the seed library demonstrate various gardening techniques from time to time. This season’s pop-ups:
April 18, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Composting how-to’s
May 30, 2-4 p.m. Winter sowing results and seedling giveaway
Spring Gardening Series:
The remaining two workshops in this series are coming up. Register for the first one now, and be on the lookout for a registration link for the last one a few weeks ahead of the workshop date.
Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tomato growers, this is for you! This workshop covers everything you need to know about warm weather crops: how to make the best of our short growing season; which crops are best started indoors and which can be directly seeded into the ground; and what conditions and fertilizers each crop prefers for the best yield.
Incidentally, you can make it a full day at the library on April 11 by attending the Hamden Alliance for Trees’ afternoon presentation Our Trees Make Good Neighbors, with Kyle Dougherty. Kyle is passionate about protecting our trees, and seeks out remarkable specimens from CT and farther afield.
Pests & Diseases, Herbs & Flowers In the Vegetable Garden
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Garden pests and diseases can harm your crops and lessen your harvest potential. This workshop features the most common pests and diseases and the steps you can take to minimize damage. Knowing the bad insects from the good will also help you attract and keep the good insects while repelling the bad.
Certain flowers and herbs are valuable additions to the vegetable garden. They can help attract pollinators and beneficial insects to help keep your garden healthy and productive.
Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Library
The Seed Library will be participating in Earth Day, giving out baby plants for you to nurture at home. In addition:
Walk & Talk at 1 p.m.,
Seed Library co-founder Jim Sirch will point out early spring growth in the large stormwater garden in Town Center Park, between the library complex and the middle school.
Spring Glen Garden Walk
Garden Walk Spring Glen is in its third year. A project of our volunteer Judith Clark, you can register your garden or make plans to tour area gardens on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our Continual Thanks
The Seed Library would like to thank The Friends of Hamden Library, NewAlliance Foundation, The Greater New Haven Green Fund, and The Hamden Land Conservation Trust for their generous support and guidance, as well as Select Seed, Hart Seed, New England Seed, Cheshire Garden Center, UConn Master Gardener program, Pardee Rose Garden, and local gardeners who — more and more — are sharing their seed bounty with us.
We are also pleased to thank and recognize the Library Staff, always supportive and encouraging, along with our committed volunteers who provide programming and staff the Seed Library: Betsy, Damien, Diane, Eleanor, Jim, Joan, Judie, Lani, Laurie, Maria, and Nancy.
Know plants? Are you a Master Gardener or knowledgeable gardener? Feel free to contact us to discuss ways you can volunteer with the Seed Library!