Caledon Public Library launches new seed initiative with local farm

April 26, 2018 · 0 Comments

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

Caledon Public Library, in partnership with the Bolton and District Horticultural Society (BDHS) and the Albion Hills Community Farm, have launched the Caledon Seed Library, a free community led program designed to conserving the town’s agricultural ecosystem.

Launched over the weekend at the public library, the program is meant for the distributing, growing, nurturing, harvesting, and sharing of seeds.

Participants can visit the seed collection case in the library’s front entrance, pick and choose various packets of flower, vegetables, and herb seed, and then collect the seeds during harvest time to grow the collection and share with others.

“People have a greater appreciation, knowledge of growing food and flowers locally,” said Carol Good with the BDHS, who noted that this is an initiative unfolding across the country. “It’s really sort of bumping up people’s knowledge, awareness, and engagement.”

There are pamphlets to provide further information on plants and seeds, along with a seed saving workshop held at the library during the fall.

“We do hope that it just takes off,” says Laura Nolloth, the library’s communication and community development, who added the focus of the program will be during the spring and fall, when it is time for planting and harvesting.

She said they will track which plants and vegetables have been taken, to determine the most popular.

Ms. Good said the library has been devoted to “community engagement,” and have partnered with them several times before. She added they are curious to see the degree of interest, as right now the feedback has been positive and many are excited to participate. “It’s a growing trend, literally.”
Brenda Heenan, another member of the BDHS, commented on how flowers and food go together. “Most fruits and vegetables require pollination, and the flowers encourage a lot more pollinating plants to come to your vegetables, so it’s a mutually beneficial plant association.”

Ms. Nolloth added that the program is cross generational. “Youth can participate in growing something as simple as a pea or a bean, and the experienced gardener, and so there is no age barriers.”