Santa Fe Seed Library
Seed Library Re-Opening March 25th!
Santa Fe Seed Library at the Southside Branch Library
March 25th, 2023, is the slated re-opening of the Seed Library at the Santa Fe Public Library’s Southside Branch on Jaguar Drive. The Seed Library, operated by the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners’ Seed Stewards, houses thousands of open-pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds donated by local growers and commercial seed companies. Patrons may “check out” up to 5 packets at no cost. A library card is not required to use the Seed Library.
The Seed Library will be open during the library’s regular open hours.
For those new to vegetable gardening, the SFEMG Seed Stewards will offer free Basic Seed Saving and Gardening Workshops throughout the season.
Since its launch in 2019, Santa Fe Seed Library has distributed nearly 15,000 seed packets to the community. In January, 2020, the Santa Fe Reporter named it one of their Twenty Favorite Things About Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe Seed Library is a project of the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners’ Seed Stewards in partnership with the Santa Fe Public Library. We are grateful to Ace Hardware Santa Fe, Agua Fria Nursery, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Botanical Interest, El Guique Farm, Farm Direct Organic, High Desert Seed + Gardens, High Ground Gardens, High Mowing Organic Seeds, La Villita Ranch, Lake Valley Seeds, Plants of the Southwest, Reunity Resources, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Seed Savers Exchange, Snake River Seed Cooperative, Western Family Farm, Zulu Petals, and the many local gardeners who have donated their seeds.
Seed Library Support and Workshops
In partnership with the Santa Fe Public Library, Seed Stewards will put on educational events 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.
Seed Packing at the Southside Library Come and Help!
Come and meet new people and help get seeds out into the Community!
February 22nd – 5:30-7:30 p.m., March 4th – 12:30-2:30 p.m., and March 8th – 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Southside Library 6599 Jaguar Dr. 505-955-2820.
Successful Seed Planting with Jannine Cabossel “The Santa Fe Tomato Lady”
The Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners’ Seed Stewards will open the Southside Library’s Seed Library March 25th. In preparation for planting, come to this session to learn good practices and techniques to ensure a healthy and flourishing garden.
March 7th – 5:30 p.m. at the Southside Library 6599 Jaguar Dr. 505-955-2820.
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