Mesa County Libraries Seed Library reopens

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - Tuesday, Mesa County Libraries kicked off a seasonal resource, hoping to encourage people to have more of a green thumb.

The resource is called the Seed Library and gives Mesa County residents the opportunity to donate and take seed packets for gardening. The idea for the Seed Library started three years ago. Michele Hickey, Library Associate for Mesa County Libraries, said, “This originated at our Discovery Garden, which is on 5th and Chipeta. We had leftover seeds from our Discovery Garden, and we decided to incorporate them into a collection to share with the public in a seed library.”

The Seed Library is located at the Mesa County Central Library. The resource is seasonal and is open from now until August. People can come by and pick up to three seed packets per month, no library card is needed. There is a variety of seeds available for people to be creative with in their own gardens. “The Seed Library seeds are available for people to use in their own personal gardens, their own personal gardening efforts. With the three seed packets per month, we hope we give them a little bit of different variety that they’re welcome to use at home. We have herbs, flowers, and vegetable seeds,” said Hickey.

And while the seeds are there to encourage gardening and new hobbies, this service has quickly become a multi-generational activity. “We’ve witnessed younger kids picking out seeds with their parents. We’ve witnessed the older generation using the seed library. I’ve witnessed some teens that we’re really excited about growing jalapenos come visit, so it’s been really fun seeing people of all different backgrounds and ages take advantage of the seed library and get excited about gardening,” said Hickey.

While people have the chance to pick up a new hobby, the service also teaches people about the impact growing your own food can also have. “The goal is really just to be able to educate people on gardening, expand their gardening knowledge, give them a fun new hobby, as well as teach people how grow their own food,” said Hickey.

Last year the Seed Library gave out about 4500 seed packets. Mesa County Libraries also has gardening programs, “Spring Seed Exchange” and “Seed Starting Indoors” this month. Here is a link to Mesa County Libraries website for more information, https://mesacountylibraries.org/2025/02/seed-library-reopening/.

If you want to donate seeds, check with the librarians at the Central location about what seed donations they are accepting.