Livonia, Westland, Redford all jump on seed library bandwagon to encourage home gardening

Looking to get into gardening this spring? The local library has you covered. 

The Livonia and Westland public libraries are both opening seed libraries this spring, and Redford Township's library recently started one. People will be able to stop in and grab seeds for flowers, veggies and herbs for free. 

The three openings coincide with what librarians describe as a statewide trend toward gardening programming. A seed library takes up little space and brings more people into the local library. 

"Seed libraries are actually kind of cropping up everywhere," Aubrey Franklin, an adult services librarian for the Westland Public Library, said. "There’s quite a lot. We know it’s a popular resource for people, and people are really excited about it. Gardening has, I think, really increased in popularity over the years, especially in the last two with the pandemic."

Westland's seed library opens March 30. Franklin noted the library, like those in Livonia and Redford, will include gardening and seed-saving books for newcomers to the hobby. All three libraries are also planning additional programming focused on gardening.

Franklin, a gardener herself, recommended rookies start with easy-to-grow plants like tomatoes, lettuce and beans. 

Ken Bignotti, an adult services librarian at the Livonia Civic Center Library, added that leafy greens are usually a good place to start. Livonia's seed library opens April 30.

Most seed libraries aim to be self-sustaining. People are encouraged to save seeds from the fruits of their labor and bring them back to the library at the end of the growing season. 

"People check seed out, grow it in their garden, harvest the seed and then return some of the seed," Bignotti said. "We recognize that a lot of different things can happen during the gardening season and almost any experience you have is going to be a learning experience. We’re more interested in getting seeds in the hands of local gardeners than making sure they bring seed back."

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Seed libraries have grown in popularity in Michigan — people can find a map of all the known libraries by visiting miseedlibrary.org — but haven't always been popular. When Lyon Township Public Library started its popular seed library in 2013, it was one of the only operations in the state. 

"I just kind of flew by the seat of my pants on opening this thing," Pam Quackenbush, a library technician for the Lyon Township Public Library, said. "There weren’t too many in Michigan ... It’s well used and gets more use every year as more folks find out about it. We have hundreds of people registered for it."

Franklin, Bignotti and Quackenbush all garden and say it's a good way to spend time outdoors, move their bodies and obtain healthy food. 

"I love getting closer to the earth," Franklin said. "I think it’s something that really connects me to the past – I think about my grandparents gardening and ancestors before that. I also love to cook, and I think it goes hand-in-hand with that."

Contact reporter Shelby Tankersley at stankersle@hometownlife.com or 248-305-0448. Follow her on Twitter @shelby_tankk.