Santa Fe Seed Library
The Santa Fe Seed Library, named “One of 25 Things We Love About Santa Fe Right Now” by the Santa Fe Reporter in 2020, is now in its third season. The Seed Library is responding to pandemic-related library closures by again locating “Mini Seed Libraries” at 11 locations throughout the county starting in March and continuing through May or as long as seed supplies last. To kick off the 2021 growing season, the Seed Library and the Santa Fe Public Library encourage you to view the award-winning film, “Seed: The Untold Story.” through SFPL’s Kanopy platform from the comfort of your home. Later in the spring, the library will host a panel discussion featuring local seed advocates and experts.
Mini Seed Libraries 2021 Locations, Dates, and Hours
The Seed Library has been relocated to 11 self-serve “Mini Seed Libraries” throughout the county. Home Grown New Mexico is partnering with SFEMG on the project. Learn more at http://homegrownnewmexico.org.
Please wear a mask, access the seed boxes one at a time, observe 6 feet minimum social distancing, and disinfect your hands before and after use.
Please limit the number of seed packets you take to no more than 5. Early season cold weather greens and seeds that need to be started indoors will be available through April 15. Warm season vegetables will be available April 15 through May, except at locations marked with *. At these two locations all seeds will be available starting March 6.
Weekends Only, March 6-May 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (as supplies last)
· Santa Public Library Southside Branch, Santa Fe, 6599 Jaguar Drive, Santa Fe. Located under the portal
· Santa Public Library La Farge Branch, Located under the portal, 1730 Llano St., Santa Fe.
· Santa Public Library Main/Downtown Branch, 145 Washington Ave., Santa Fe; Located by the Curbside door in back parking lot.
· The Santa Fe County Fairgrounds, 3229 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe. Located outside the white gate No Longer Available
· Edgewood Senior Center, 114 Quail Tr., Edgewood, NM, at Community Garden inside hoop house
· Pojoaque Valley Irrigation District Office, 9 Cities of Gold Road, Pojoaque.
Regular Business Hours, March 6-May 31 (as supplies last)
· Reunity Resources, Santa Fe, 1829 San Ysidro Crossing, March: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; April-May: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to noon. Call to confirm (505) – 490 – 1047
· La Tienda, Eldorado, 7 Caliente Road, Eldorado, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*March 6-April 30 Weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (as supplies last)
· Seed Shelter, 1539 Burro Lane, near Siler roundabout. Please park on the street.
· Railyard Park Classroom, 740 Cerrillos Road where S. Guadalupe and Paseo de Peralta meet, behind Site Santa Fe and accessed from Callejon. No Longer Available
Saturday, March 20 ONLY, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
· Galisteo Park, Galisteo, NM. Park is adjacent to church at the junction of NM Routes 41 and 42.
This project is a community service of the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners Seed Stewards Project in partnership with the Santa Fe Public Library and Home Grown New Mexico. We are grateful for the support of Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Rare Seeds, Plants of the Southwest, Lake Valley Seeds, La Villita Farm, Farm Direct Organic, Snake River Seed Cooperative, High Ground Gardens, El Guique Farm, Western Family Farm, Agua Fria Nursery, Botanical Interest, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Reunity Resources, Zulu Petals, La Tienda at Eldorado, and the many local gardeners who have shared their seeds.
Seed Library Support and Workshops
In partnership with the Santa Fe Public Library, Seed Stewards will put on educational events virtually (or in-person when safe) for the public during peak planting and harvesting times. Topics include how to start and transplant seeds; soil building and raised beds; how to select, collect, and save seeds; seed exchanges; seed storing; drip irrigation techniques, botany and breeding. Workshop schedules will be posted on both the SFPL and SFEMG websites. Seed Stewards will work with SFPL to create posters, flyers, brochures, booklets and digital resources to provide how-to information and support to the public on seeds and seed stewardship. Materials will be available at the Seed Library and online.
What Are Locally-Adapted Seeds and Why are they Important?
Open-pollinated seeds versus hybridized or genetically-modified seeds that have evolved over numerous growing seasons or perhaps even thousands of years are inherently more bio-diverse, giving them the ability to thrive in a specific regional climate, geography, and hydrology. Furthermore, this biodiversity is like a built-in insurance policy that enables adaptability to climatic change, and will be hardy and resistant to environmental stresses that would fell plants from seed imported from other regions or countries.
Find out more at https://www.sfemg.org/seed-stewardship-project
Online Resources
- Jannine Cabossel, The Tomato Lady, a local expert who writes a blog that cover all aspects of vegetable gardening. Giantveggiegardener.com.
- Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners. SFEMG.org. Submit a gardening question online; Listen to a series of podcasts called Veggie Gardening 101 (on the Garden Journal Radio page); Search the newsletter archives.
- New Mexico State University Extension Division
- Seed Savers Exchange has a collection of seed growing and saving resources .
- YouTube videos—search on the topic you are interested in.
- Santa Fe Planting Calendar
- Planting outdoors I: Sowing seed Planting outdoors II: Transplanting
- How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden (Eng.)
- Las Tres Hermanas: How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden (Span.)
- Easy Seeds for Beginning Seed Savers
- Seed School Online, a 7-week webinar combining technical guidance, visual content, and hands-on activities. $$; Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance.
- A Guide to Seed Saving, Stewardship, and Sovereignty – Seed Ambassadors, 2010
- How to Start Seeds Indoors video from Lee Valley Tools
- Vegetable Seed Starting and Transplanting Guide from PennState Extension.
- Marisa Thompson on Touch and Grow Seed Starters
- Growing Guides from Territorial Seeds
- Planting Chart