HOW THE SEED LIBRARY WORKS
- BORROW
CHOOSE YOUR SEEDS! You can find more information on our available plant varieties in our plant binder. - GROW
PLANT YOUR SEEDS and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
New to gardening? Attend one of our free gardening classes or check out one of our many books on the subject! - SAVE
HARVEST SEEDS from some of your most robust and healthy plants and SAVE THEM for future growing seasons. - SHARE*
RETURN & SHARE SOME SEEDS to make your seed library a sustainable source of locally grown, climate-resilient plants! Please fill out one Shasta Seed Library seed donation slip for each variety returned.
*Returning saved seed is entirely optional.
Shasta Seed Library Downloads
“Zucchini Contest!”
Presented by Shasta Seed Library
Grow the largest Zucchini (by weight) and win a prize!
Enter between March 9 – October 31, 2024
for your chance to win a Wyntour Gardens gift card!
(All submission turned in at the Redding Library)
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“Seed Savings Contest!”
Presented by Shasta Seed Library
Save your open-pollinated garden seeds to donate to the Shasta Seed Library for your chance to win a gift card to Wyntour Gardens!
Only those who donate home-grown, open-pollinated varieties of seeds before October 31st will be entered.
(All submission must be brought to the Customer Service desk in at the Redding Library. Be sure to fill out a donation slip with your seed and contact information!)
Join us the first Wednesday of each month in the Library Community Room to help us pack seeds for the Shasta Seed Library! Come volunteer, chat with friends old and new, and get a sneak peek of what will be available in 2025!
Great seed saving resources from Napa County Seed Library
- Napa County Seed Library has a lot of great resources for seed saving and the mechanics of pollination, etc. —> https://napacoseedlibrary.org
- Watch more Seed Saving videos on the Napa County Seed Library YoutTube channel —> https://www.youtube.com/c/NapaCountySeedLibrary
How do you use the Shasta Seed Library?
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You become a seed library member simply by borrowing seed. This is a no-cost resource for everyone, no library account required!
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When the Seed Library is open, you can view an index of available crops and seed varieties, as well as a plant binder with images and growing instructions, to help you decide which seeds to borrow and grow.
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Planting schedules, seed saving guides, links to video resources, and more, are available on our website at: www.shastalibraries.org/seed-library
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Because the seed library is a limited community resource, we ask that users be mindful of how many packets they take per visit. Multiple crops and varieties can be borrowed at each visit, but we ask that users not take multiple packets of the same variety at one time. We encourage trying out multiple varieties, but only take what you can grow in your personal garden during the current growing season.
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Once the seed is grown out and preferred varieties are identified, we ask that our community growers consider saving and returning some seeds from a few of the healthiest plants. Saving and returning seed to the library will help make this community resource sustainable, as well as increase our inventory of locally grown and vetted crop varieties.
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Participation in seed saving and sharing is highly encouraged but NOT REQUIRED. Seed saving does require some knowledge, and those who wish to learn more can do so through one of our seed saving workshops or by checking out one of our many books on the subject.
Why have a seed library?
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To increase the capacity of our community members to feed themselves and their families fresh, nutrient-rich food
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To foster community resilience, self-reliance, and food security through the time-honored tradition of seed saving
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To promote a culture of sharing while building a no-cost, accessible source of locally-adapted seeds
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To create a space for the exchange of information about our area’s gardening resources
Shasta Seed Library FAQs
Don't Forget to Save Your Open-Pollinated Seeds!
The Shasta Seed Library’s mission to become a no-cost, accessible resource of locally-adapted seeds is only possible with your participation. If you can save seeds from your favorite open-pollinated crops, please consider donating some to this community resource.
(Donations can be brought to the Customer Service desk at the Redding Library. Don’t forget to fill out a donation slip!)
The Shasta Seed Library was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act administered in California by the State Librarian