The Mount Shasta Seed Library
About Our Seed Library
Thanks for taking the time to check out our seed library! We appreciate your interest in creating more green practices in our community. The Mount Shasta Seed Library is a free program created by the Mt. Shasta Public Library in partnership with the Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center that aims to facilitate self-sufficiency, climate resilience, biodiversity, and to spread the love of gardening throughout our community!
We offer free seeds, information, programs, and of course, books to inspire and educate our community members, no matter where they are on their gardening journey. The Mount Shasta Seed Library is sustained by the donated seeds provided by community members like you.
Our goal is to provide equitable access to seeds, knowledge, and opportunities to connect our community of gardeners and seed savers with healthy and sustainable growing practices. Our seed library is open to everyone, whether you are a beginner or a master gardener. We hope the Mount Shasta Seed Library helps continue to spread the joy of gardening to all!
How the Seed Library is Organized
The Seed Library is organized alphabetically by common name. For simplicity, we have grouped certain crops into categories, such as “GREENS, SALAD” for plants like arugula, endives, and lettuces; or “SQUASH, WINTER” for pumpkins, acorn squash, butternuts, etc.
Seed Packet Label Format:
- COMMON NAME
- Scientific Name (Botanical Family)
- Variety Name
- The year that they were harvested is written on the flap of the Seed Packet
- If the seed was donated from a local resident, Locally Grown will be written on the bottom of the packet.
Refer to our Seed Packet Binder and the Seed Library Resources Binder for more information on Growing Info (days to maturity, when to plant, seed spacing, etc) and to read the stories of community members who have grown/donated the seeds
How to Check Out Seeds
The Seed Library operates on the honor system. You do not need a library card to check out seeds. Please be mindful of this shared resource and only take what you can grow in your personal garden.
Feel free to take more than one variety or crop, but please take only one packet per variety per visit. Thank you!
How to Donate Seeds
Are you interested in saving your own seeds? Click here to read more on this topic.
Click here to download the seed donation form.
Collect and clean seeds from your healthiest and most successful crops, setting aside some for yourself and some for the library. We’re happy to accept donations of your open-pollinated, heirloom, and/or locally saved seeds in any quantity. PLEASE NOTE: Seeds from grocery store produce are NOT the best suited for being saved or donated! Know how your plant reproduces, if it is self pollinating or if it easily cross pollinates with other varieties of the same species (ex: squash.)
To donate seeds bring them to the Library in a disposable container (i.e., a sandwich bag, an envelope, etc.) or their original seed packet and bring it to the Front Desk.
You will be given a Donation slip to fill out and be kept with your donated seeds. We will ask for the following information:
1. Seed Name: ______________________________
2. Variety: ________________________________
3. Source (the seed provider, your garden, etc.): ______________________________________________
4. Are these seeds Organic: Y/N
5. Difficulty of saving (easy, difficult, hand-pollinate, etc.): _______________________________________
6. Planting season (Spring, Summer, Fall): __________
7. Extra notes:
Days to Maturity/Germination Period _____________
Best growing conditions (needs sun, needs shade, etc.) _________________________________
Anything else you would like to tell us! How did your crop grow? How did it taste? How did you use it? The more information you share, the better we can track the success of our local seed stories! (more room on back) _______________________________________________________________________________
All donated seeds will be approved and prepared for circulation by staff and volunteers.
Thank you for donating your seeds to the Mount Shasta Seed Library! Your donations help us create local seed stocks that are increasingly better acclimated to our local climate. You can find more information about basic tips on how to save seeds in our Additional Resources page.
Questions on how to donate seeds?
Please contact:
Si Clare, Librarian, Mount Shasta Library, mountshastalibrary@gmail.com
Address: 515 E Alma St, Mt Shasta, CA 96067 *
Phone: (530) 926-2031
OR
Kayla Marie Figard, Community Education Coordinator, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center, kaylamarie@mountshastaecology.org
Seed Library FAQs
Mount Shasta Seed Library FAQs
Q: Who can borrow seeds?
A: Anyone can borrow seeds from the seed library. You don’t need to be a Mount Shasta resident or Library card holder. Please be mindful of this shared resource and only take what you can grow in your own home garden.
Q: What time is the library open?
A: The seed library is open when the library is open Monday-Saturday 12-6pm. It’s self-serve and self-check out. There are seeds available in the cabinets.
Q: What do you mean “borrow” seeds? How can I do that if I plant them?
A: Plant the seeds. If you’d like to save seeds and donate them back to the library, that’s wonderful. Before saving seeds, please see more info on Seed Saving in our binder at the Library or on our webpage. We also offer Seed Saving workshops, check our website for more info.
Q: Do I have to bring seeds to participate?
A: No, but bringing seeds helps to keep the library stocked. Please see answer to previous question.
Q: Who runs Mount Shasta Seed Library?
A: The Mount Shasta Seed Library is a free program created by the Mt. Shasta Public Library in partnership with the Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center that aims to facilitate self-sufficiency, climate-resilience, and biodiversity, and to spread the love of gardening throughout our community!
Q: How can I get involved?
A: If you are interested in volunteering for one of our Seed Packing Parties, you can sign up at the library or by emailing mtshastalibrary@gmail.com.
Q: Besides the seed library, what else does Mount Shasta Seed Library do?
A: We offer a number of free classes on seed saving, starting seeds indoors, beginning gardening, companion planting, regenerative and organic gardening. All classes are free and offered at the library or locally. Check our website for details.