Boston Public Library Seed Library Initiative

A guest post by Kathleen Clifford, South Boston Branch Programs & Community Outreach Librarian.

The Boston Public Library’s Seed Library invites you to create your own garden! You can pick up a selection of seeds at a participating branch listed below:

• Brighton
• Chinatown
• Codman Square
• Connolly
• East Boston
• Egleston Square
• Faneuil
• Fields Corner
• Hyde Park
• Jamaica Plain
• Mattapan
• Parker Hill
• Roslindale
• South Boston
• Uphams Corner
• West End
• West Roxbury

The seed library aims to support our local ecosystem and combat food insecurity. These select branches have a variety of free, easy-to-grow vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.

How do seed libraries work? Pick up a few seeds and plant them in your yard, a pot, or get involved in your local community garden. Ask us for growing information or how to ensure lead safe soil. Seed saving is an ancient practice and we encourage you to try and collect seeds to donate back to our seed library! Sharing seeds collected from plants in our neighborhoods increases our access to resilient plants.

Check out our guide to community gardening resources. We also have many books on seeds and gardening in our collection.

Another great resource is GrowBoston, which is part of the City of Boston's Office of Urban Agriculture. Their goal is to increase food production and support local food producers in Boston, including gardeners, farmers, beekeepers, and more.

Please note, seed selection may vary by location and is available while supplies last. The majority of seeds for the seed library were provided by Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Be sure to share your garden pictures and stories with us using #BPLSeedLibrary.