Kelowna’s Seed Library continues nurturing new gardeners

If you’ve ever fancied growing your own food, how about going to a local library for some great tips on getting started.

The Okanagan Regional Library, Rutland Branch’s Seed Library is providing packets filled with would-be plants to those looking to get a green thumb.

After nearly a year of running the program, it has caught on with the public.

A budding gardener himself, Ara, from 103.1 Beach Radio, swung by to see firsthand how the library was doing, and get some gardening tips from the head librarian, Alice Yaghi.

“The Okanagan Regional Library's different branches are really embracing the idea,” Yaghi told Ara.

“It's fantastic because it brings community together. It allows people to share what they love with new enthusiasts.”

Vegetables like kale, parsnips, rutabaga, Swiss chard, and more, are available to take home from Rutland.

The focus is on edible plants to help combat food insecurity in the community. But the library welcomes seed donations of other types, too.

“It’s really important to allow people to feel secure in that they can grow their own food and that they have that option,” Yaghi said. “Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow a lot of these plants on a balcony. There’s a lot of ways you can flex growing your own food.”

Patrons can borrow up to six packets at a time per visit.

They say ‘borrow’ because the expectation is for the person to give back some seeds from the plants they grew to keep the shelf stacked.

Accessibility was top of mind for the program so even the most amateur green-thumbs have a wealth of knowledge to help them produce bountiful crops.

This includes gardening books, online videos, a large database on research papers via their website, online apps, etc.

“There is an opportunity here to grow the stuff that will sustain you,” she said. “I encourage everyone to go and touch bases with their local branches and support them.”