The Moorestown seed library program offers free vegetable and flower packets. The program begins at the township library on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
The seed library is back.
The township library program will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when members of the Rutgers Master Gardener Program of Burlington County get things going at 1:30 p.m.
The program will cover how to start seeds, store them, plant them and more. It will be followed with a session for participants so they can learn how the library works and what types of seeds will be available.
“To have our community so excited and involved with it was really great,” said Erin Oswald, adult services librarian, of last year’s successful season.
The seed library will be open through August while supplies last. Here’s how it works: Residents can pick out up to three vegetable packets (per household, per month) and up to two flower packets (per household, per month), fill out a form located on the side of the pillar next to the seed library and give them to the librarian at the info desk.
Donations for the seed library are accepted year-round. They must be in original, unopened packaging and dated within the past three years.
“(Gardening) doesn’t have to be a stressful thing,” Oswald noted. “You can start small … That’s the great thing about gardening. People will see other people with large gardens and it gets overwhelming, but you can just plant a couple of tomato plants, even in a container … I find it really stress-reducing, too, just to get your hands dirty. Even if it’s just pulling some weeds or picking some tomatoes…
“I think it’s important right now, too, with food as expensive as it is,” she added of the seed program. “It’s an easy way to lower your grocery bills a little bit, if you can get your tomatoes or your basil or some of your herbs from your own garden … It feels really good, too. Like, ‘I grew this. This is awesome, and now I’m going to eat it.’
“That’s a really good feeling.”
The seed library is sponsored by Flagg’s Garden Center, Burpee, Everbloom Seeds, the Territorial Seed Co., Sow True Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, FedCo Seeds and the Friends of the Moorestown Library.
Registration for the program’s opening is required through the library website.
