Readers can check out more than just books at the Bastrop Public Library.
The details
A seed library, located at the front of the Bastrop Public Library near the checkout counter, allows community members to take home packets of vegetable, herb and flower seeds for free.
“Its mission is to promote biodiversity, preserve heirloom and native plant varieties and empower individuals to engage in sustainable gardening,” the Bastrop County Master Gardener Association said in a statement about the seed library.
Those who borrow seeds are encouraged to return seeds from their harvest, so others can check them out as well.
The seed library at the Bastrop Public Library includes a guide for which seeds grow best in full sun, partial shun and shade. (Courtesy city of Bastrop)Zooming in
The Bastrop Public Library—which built its catalog of seeds through donations from packets, bulk seeds, and seeds still in pods or stems—has a variety of seeds for gardeners to choose from depending on the season.
“We cater to what you can plant at a certain time,” Amie Cuvelier, the librarian who spearheads the seed library, said. “Right now, I have 13 varieties out, and I know I’ve had up to 15 before.”
She told Community Impact that gardening goals can often vary from person to person.
“There’s the floral gardeners, the people who just want to have fun with some landscaping and the people who want to grow vegetables,” Cuvelier said. “So we try to have something for everybody, and we’ve had a lot of participation from the different gardening groups in the community.”
The seed library display at the Bastrop Public Library is paired with recommended books offering gardeners helpful tips on what to grow. (Courtesy city of Bastrop)Also of note
Seed donations can be brought to the Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St., Bastrop, during open hours.
“By sharing seeds, the Bastrop County Master Gardeners Association, in collaboration with the Bastrop Public Library, encourages local food production, environmental stewardship and a deeper connection to nature,” the Bastrop County Master Gardener Association said.
The seeds available at the Bastrop Public Library are largely donated from community members. (Courtesy Megan Martin)Notable quote
“I haven’t had a lot of people come back and tell me about the plants they’ve grown, but I had a person that would check in with me every time he came back into the library,” Cuvelier said. “He hadn’t really grown anything before, so I would give him some tips with some of the things that I know. Those kinds of moments are really fun.”
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