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Seed Library
The Hamden Seed Library on the lower floor of Miller Memorial Library will be open for free native seeds on the following dates and times in January:
Thursday, January 15, 1:00-4:30pm
Saturday, January 17, 2:00-4:30pm
Thursday, January 22, 1:00-4:30pm
Saturday, January 24, 2:00-4:30pm
Spring Season Seed Library Opens February 2
For the past few years Hamden Library Seed Library had our own little nook in Miller Library’s lower level, where you can browse a wide variety of herb, veggie, and ornamental seeds, free to all. We do set limits on how many seeds you can take, and often divide the seed packs to accommodate smaller gardens. Many of the seeds are donated and are from the previous year; but courtesy of the Friends of Hamden Library we are able to purchase some highly desirable seeds (hello, tomato) as well. We also welcome local gardeners to share their seeds with us.
We staff the seed library with experienced gardeners twice a week, and from time to time demonstrate various gardening techniques.
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
Where is the Seed Libary?
Tucked in behind the Mystery books on the Lower Level of Miller Library is our Seed Library, stocked between February and June with an assortment of vegetable, flower, and herb seeds. This year, additional donations have allowed us to add several types of heirloom seeds and varieties of vegetables and herbs of interest from around the world.
Browse these resources for help getting starting growing vegetables and garden plants from seeds.
A small number of books from the library’s collection are on display at the Seed Library. Visit the 635 section (on the third floor at Miller Library) for a great selection of books on all aspects of gardening.
About the Seed Library
The Hamden Library Seed Library has two distinct collections:
– Seeds for plants that are important to pollinators, mostly natives
– Herb, flower, and vegetable seeds for home gardeners.
We also offer programs based on our two collections. We are pleased that patrons have started donating seeds from their native plant gardens, and encourage seed saving as part of your garden plans. We will collect seed from community members, with the understanding that we reserve the right to refuse any seeds offered for donation.
From time to time we will continue to provide programming on various aspects of gardening. Workshops to date: Propagating Pollinator Plants from Seed, Winter Sowing, Starting Seeds for the Home Garden, Saving Seed from the Vegetable Garden.
In addition, program attendees have shown interest in the following topics: Starting a garden of various types of plants, Maintaining a garden and pruning, saving seeds, Soil structure and fertility, Rain gardens, composting, Insect ID and control
In 2023 Master Gardener Diane Dynia created a rain garden at Brundage Library. Diane shared her Plant List (PDF) of the plants she used.
Do you want to be on the seed library email list? Do you have an idea for a program? Send an email to HPLSeedLibrary@gmail.com.