GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Nebraska may be an agricultural heavyweight, but while we’re surrounded by corn and cattle, many folks still live in food deserts with limited access to fresh vegetables, but a trip to the library could help get your garden started.
The Grand Island Public Library’s annual seed and plant exchange returns this weekend, alongside its year-round seed library, offering residents a chance to pick up everything from vegetables to flowers—and the know-how to grow them.
“We’re really excited. This is our third year we’ve done the seed and plant exchange, and every year it grows,” said Library Director Celine Swan. “Last year we gave away over a thousand plants, which is crazy.”
The event has become increasingly popular as more people look to stretch their food budgets or try their hand at gardening. Swan said the variety is part of the appeal.
“It’s everything,” she said. “I grabbed a tomato plant last year. And people are just so excited to get their hands on plants now that food’s more expensive.”
Even beginners are encouraged to take part, with guidance readily available.
“Even people that don’t know how to grow plants, they can come in, grab some things, ask questions,” Swan said. “Our library’s just providing one other service that seems a little unusual, but it’s very popular.”
That service includes the library’s seed library, stocked with vegetables, herbs, and more. Local 4-H members helped organize the seeds.
“It really does take a community,” Swan said. “It’s great to get the kids involved because they can see the value of growing your own.”
Grand Island isn’t alone; communities from Central City to Omaha now have lending libraries that share seeds.
Helping answer questions during Grand Island’s plant exchange will be volunteers from the Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, a statewide network trained through Nebraska Extension.
“They really are the experts,” Swan said. “They always give me good advice… they’re very valuable.”
Extension Educator Elizabeth Exstrom said the event is just one example of how Master Gardeners give back locally.
“The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program is across the state,” Exstrom said. “We have volunteers in several different communities, and they do fun projects like helping at the seed and plant exchange or at the seed library, but they also do community beautification projects as well.”
Participants in the program complete extensive horticulture training—covering everything from soils to plant diagnostics—in exchange for volunteer service in their communities.
“The volunteers come and get education from Nebraska Extension, and in return they are required to volunteer in their local communities,” Exstrom said.
That training spans a wide range of topics.
“Our curriculum is pretty extensive,” she said. “We cover from basic soils to plant biology, botany, plant diagnostics—and then we get to do some of the fun things like floral design.”
Exstrom said her own passion for horticulture started early, growing up on a central Nebraska farm.
“My mom has a horticulture degree and my uncle worked for a landscaper,” she said. “So I was just kind of born into the area of horticulture.”
The seed and plant exchange runs:
May 1: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
May 2: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
May 3: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
A container gardening program with Exstrom is also scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
For those interested in becoming a Master Gardener, more information is available through Nebraska Extension.
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