ROOTS Launches Program To Allow Residents To 'Check Out' Seeds For Planting

By Jeniece Roman, The Bristol Press

April 7, 2022

New Britain ROOTS has launched a program that would allow area residents to “check out” a variety of seeds for planting.

New Britain ROOTS launched the Greater New Britain Community Seed Library in March, a program that offers a variety of free garden and vegetable seeds for visitors to use in their own gardens. The program is available in four public libraries: New Britain, Berlin, Plainville and Southington. Each Seed Library carries educational information on gardening and even allows for visitors to return their own home grown seeds to share with others in the community.

Seed libraries within communities are used to encourage participants to celebrate biodiversity and nurture locally adapted plant varieties and foster a culture of community sharing.

The idea for the Greater New Britain Community Seed Library came about last year when ROOTS approached the Catalyst Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater New Britain. The Seed Library was made possible through grant support from the Catalyst Fund at The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.

ROOTS Executive Director Joey Listro said seed saving provides an important contribution to the community because it is a tool to preserve knowledge while connecting the community.

“Over the years, we’ve been approached by gardeners throughout our community who have grown and saved seeds from their own families that have been passed down through generations. The Community Seed Library will create a venue for people to share their seeds with a wider network of people, building community through seed sharing.” Listro said.

Library visitors become members automatically when they “check-out” seeds to plant in their gardens. Listro said the stocked seed libraries operate on the honor system and members are encouraged to return seeds to the seed libraries. This can be done by seed-saving or by donating packets of already purchased seeds.

Pat Rukowski, director of the New Britain Public Library, said when ROOTS approached the library, they were pleased to partner with such a valuable community organization. Rukowski said the new Community Seed Library program has already been received well by library patrons.

“The community response has been amazing. People were so excited that inquiries began before the seeds arrived. We are now in the second week and many have come in to pick up their seeds,” Rukowski said. “Libraries are a perfect place to offer a seed library as this is exactly what we do –provide access to information and resources. Not only do we offer the seeds, but we have many helpful informational resources on the topic such as books, magazines and DVDS, and we are also planning special programs. ”

Anyone interested in learning more about The Greater New Britain Community Seed Library find more information on the ROOTS website: newbritainroots.org/community-seed-library.