Seed Library

Volunteers will staff the Seed Library two afternoons each week:

            Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m. through June 5

            Saturdays from 2-4:30 p.m. through June 7

A basic assortment of current-season seeds will be on display whenever the Seed Library is staffed.

Also, a wide selection of past-season seeds is available for self-service whenever Miller Library is open. These include vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals (annuals and perennials).

Can’t visit while we are staffed? We are working on a short list of common veggie seeds (and a few flowers and herbs) to be available to request, and we will fill limited requests weekly for pickup at any Hamden Library branch. Look for details at the Seed Library.

 

 

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 1 and June 8 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 This Winter
  • 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
Library patron Charity Hiroe tooks these pictures of plants she grew from seed from the Hamden Public Library!

In 2023 Master Gardener Diane Dynia created a rain garden at Brundage Library. Diane shared her plant list with us here.

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.