Union Presbyterian Seminary Library and Shalom Farms are pleased to announce that we are partnering together to establish a community seed library in Richmond. The big card catalog on the lower level of William Smith Morton Library at UPSem is now home to a large (and growing!) selection of vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds that are freely available to the public. Most of the seeds have been generously donated by Shalom Farms. Together we want to encourage Richmonders to get outside and grow something beautiful, delicious, and nutritious. Over time we hope to cultivate a seed library full of climate-resilient seeds that grow well in our region. Gardening helps us connect with God’s very good creation (Gen 1:31) and is a sustainable way to nurture our bodies by exercising and eating more healthy foods.

The seed library is free to the public, and you don’t need a Library membership to sign up. It is accessible whenever the Library is open; find our hours here.

To use the seed library:

• Please fill out a green sign-up card, located on the side of the drop box that’s on top of the card catalog, and put it in the drop box. This is so that we can contact you about upcoming events at Shalom Farms or at the Library (we’ll do this rarely, we promise!).
• Select your free seeds. You can browse the drawers, flip through the log book, or look at the Seed Library spreadsheet on the atrium computers and iPad next to the card catalog to see what we have. The number of seeds per packet depends on how many of any given seed type we have, but there will usually be enough seeds for at least four plants.
• So that there are plenty of seeds for everyone, on the honor system, we ask that you take no more than ten kinds of seeds per growing season (spring, summer, fall/winter), and no more than one packet of seeds per plant variety. This means you’re welcome to take three packets of lettuce seeds, as long as each packet is a different variety of lettuce.
• Please sign the log book’s page for each packet of seed you take, so we know when we’re running out of something. Pages are organized alphabetically by type of plant (ex., squash, herb), and then by variety within that type (Golden zucchini, cumin).

While you’re at the Library, don’t miss our children’s books about gardening as well as our books on gardening and spirituality. A community membership to the UPSem Library will allow you to check out books to take home, and costs only $25 per year.