With food supply chains becoming more vulnerable, it makes sense to grow food in your own backyard. Mornington Peninsula Libraries is making it easier for you to get growing with their recently launched seed libraries at their Mornington, Rosebud, Hastings, and Somerville branches.
So how does it work? Library members can ‘borrow’ seeds from the library when they’re ready to plant their food garden. At the end of the growing season, keen gardeners save seeds from some of their crop and return a portion of seeds to the seed library for others to use. Members can take up to three seed packets per visit, each with 10 to 15 seeds. Written on the packets are the plant’s name, a description and care instructions.
There are many benefits of seed libraries for individuals, families, and communities. Seed libraries bring people together, create a community among gardeners and provide support to new gardeners. The program is also a great way to get children involved in gardening, teaching them where food comes from and that some plants don’t survive or bear fruit.
Active seed libraries preserve rare, open-pollinated or heirloom seeds and encourage gardeners to save quality seeds that are suitable for your growing area. They encourage diversification of our food sources and protect them for future generations.
Initial interest in the new program is strong. Mornington Peninsula Libraries team leader Marnie Umbers says: “At Mornington Library we ran out of seeds within days of launching. We started with 250 packets of seeds.” The popularity of seed libraries is spreading in other municipalities too. Similar programs operate across Melbourne and beyond, including the City of Stonnington, Greater Dandenong, Latrobe City Council, and Geelong.
“Mornington Peninsula Libraries is excited to be one of six recipients of the State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria’s Libraries for Health and Wellbeing Innovation grants for our program The Goodness of Gardening,” Marnie says. “The program complements our new seed libraries and will see gardening and sustainability events and workshops available to the Mornington Peninsula community for free over the coming year.”
Look out too for some inspiring new gardening resources being added to the library collection for borrowing. To stay up to date with events and speakers, you can join the library eNews mailing list, or check What’s On on the library web page. You can also join the library online or by visiting a branch. Membership is free.
For more information about this great initiative or to join the library, go to ourlibrary.mornpen.vic.gov.au
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