Seed Exchange

What's New?  10/01/2024

Thank you to all donors and participants in the Seed Exchange Program for your support and seed donations! The 2024 Seed Exchange program was incredibly popular and has ended for the season. 

Be sure to check our Growing info page to find information about harvesting seeds and bring your seeds to the Library Service desk to donate for our 2025 season!

We would like to express our gratitude to Andrew Guay and the Faculty of Hospitality and Horticultural Science of Durham College for their generous donation of seeds.

For thousands of years, people have cultivated gardens. Until recent times saving seed from the previous year’s crop to plant the following season was an essential part of the process. Today many people are enjoying the return of the seed saving tradition.

Seed saving is important because you:

• Develop seeds that become acclimated to our local climate
• Grow plants that are more pest resistant
• Save money on seeds and plants
• Know the origin of your food
• Become less dependent on large food producers

The seeds initially selected for this pilot fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Heirloom variety
• Container gardening friendly
• Native
• Attract pollinators / beneficial insects

We are unable to accept donations of corn, soy, canola, rose seeds or any controlled substance.

Participation is free! We kindly ask that you not only save seeds for yourself, but the Library as well. When you return or donate seeds to the collection it allows the project to remain sustainable through future growing seasons.

Borrowing

1. Choose up to 5 packets of seeds to take home.
2. Note instructions specific to your seeds on how to plant and grow.
3. Join our mailing list to receive a reminder when it's time to harvest seeds for next year. 
4. Plant your seeds and enjoy!

Returning

1. Review the specific instructions for viable harvesting of seed.
2. Collect and dry seed. Set some aside for yourself to use next year, and some to return to the Library.
3. Drop off your seeds at the Library for others to check out! 

The Seed Exchange is located at the Service Desk at North Oshawa Campus Library, as well as the Social Science, Humanities and Education Library at downtown Oshawa (Charles Hall, 61 Charles Street).

Are all the seeds organic?

The seeds labelled as such were acquired from sources that are certified organic. Users are encouraged to practice organic growing methods and to be as accurate as possible when providing information on their seed donations. There is no guarantee that the seeds donated by community members are organic.

What if I can’t return seeds?

It would be appreciated if you return a small portion of whatever seed you are able to save. You will not be penalized if you are not able to return seed, but it is the community that will keep this a self-sustaining service.

What seeds do you have?

The contents of the seed library are in a continual state of flux. Please visit the library to choose available seed.

All images from ResuableArt.com

This guide was created by Ontario Tech Libraries and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License, except where otherwise noted.