Introducing City Green's Seed Lending Library!

City Green's Seed Lending Library is now open to the community!

What is a Seed Lending Library? A Seed Lending Library is a “library” containing seeds that can be exchanged throughout the community. Here at City Green, the Seed Lending Library contains a variety of vegetable seeds, including many of the varieties we use on our farms! When you visit the Farm Eco-Center, the Seed Lending Library can be found right across from the welcome kiosk. Inside, you’ll find a number of growing resources you can download on your phone, a binder filled with different seed packets, and detailed instructions about how to use the library. 

Why use a Seed Lending Library? Using a Seed Lending Library to exchange seeds within the community helps to strengthen the local food system and create more food sovereignty and agency among local growers. By using the library, we can rely on each other to get seeds to grow our own food, rather than always purchasing seeds. 

Using the Seed Lending Library also has many practical benefits. Community members who take seeds from the library can test out different varieties of plants to see which ones grow best or become favorites in their home gardens. The library also becomes its own community where members can exchange seed and growing knowledge with our City Green farm team and each other!

Using the Seed Lending Library at City Green: 

• Seeds are catalogued by crop category. If you don’t need a whole packet of seeds, the library has empty seed packets you can use to fill with only what you need.  

• You can leave any seeds that you like, annuals or perennials, flowers, veggies, or fruits. 

• Fill out the library information sheet with your name, contact info, and what seeds you’re taking or giving to the library.

• Follow us on social media @citygreennj, share your seeds, and let us know how your seeds are growing!

In addition to City Green’s Seed Lending Library, there are a number of other seed libraries in the local area. Locations include the Little Falls Library, Montclair Public Library, Glen Rock Library, and Ridgewood Public Library. The New Jersey Library Seed Bank also maintains a list of Seed Lending Libraries throughout New Jersey. Trying out different libraries will create a stronger, more connected, and more diverse local food community.

We’re so excited to share this new Seed Lending Library project with our community! Visitors can stop by the library during our open public hours at the Farm Eco-Center, Monday - Thursday from 9AM - 4PM and Friday from 9AM - 3PM.