Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange
Mar. 14th, 2026 09:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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gardeningYesterday I discovered the Seed Library Network. I was delighted to find one near me.
Today we visited the Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange. It's on the second floor. We rode the elevator up, and the display was big enough to be seen from where the elevator lets out. Seeds are stored in drawers, sorted by type. There are sections for flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Some of the really popular ones have their own drawer; others are grouped together. Unopened packets of commercial seed are filed as they are, for folks who want to know exactly what they're getting. Opened packets or homegrown seeds are put in envelopes by library staff. With wildflower and landrace seeds, especially mixes, you may get more surprises.
You can choose 10 packets per household. I had already done my seed shopping, so I only took 6: Bean 'Scarlet Runner', Hollyhock 'Nigra', Midwest Native Wildflower Mix, Pale Purple Coneflower, Stiff Goldenrod, and Wild Quinine. I was particularly pleased by the first two, which I had skipped while whittling down my catalog orders. Stiff Goldenrod and Wild Quinine are also exciting as these will be new wildflowers for me. I didn't take anything where there was only one packet left, since I'm not short on seeds.
You may also donate seeds. I'll need to spend some time sorting through mine to see what I have enough of to share. Certainly the Shithouse Marigolds (which will need a more family-friendly nickname for this venue) and probably the mixed sunflowers from last year. I plan to donate more seeds than I took, to help keep the supply going. Label with at least the plant name, location, and year; hand the packages of seeds to the reference librarian. I'm delighted to have this way of spreading my landrace and open-pollinated seeds.
Next time I want to visit this seed library in December or January, before I do most of my seed shopping in catalogs. With catalog prices running $3-5 or more, and store prices slightly less, it's a great chance to save money.
If you are anywhere in central Illinois, the Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange is well worth visiting; if you're traveling, bring something to donate if you can. Most highly recommended! Others in the vicinity include the Odell Public Library DIstrict Seed Library in Odell, The Seed Library at Fondulac District Library in Peoria, and Marshall Public Library's Seed Library in Marshall. The others all seem to be for members only though.
Today we visited the Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange. It's on the second floor. We rode the elevator up, and the display was big enough to be seen from where the elevator lets out. Seeds are stored in drawers, sorted by type. There are sections for flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Some of the really popular ones have their own drawer; others are grouped together. Unopened packets of commercial seed are filed as they are, for folks who want to know exactly what they're getting. Opened packets or homegrown seeds are put in envelopes by library staff. With wildflower and landrace seeds, especially mixes, you may get more surprises.
You can choose 10 packets per household. I had already done my seed shopping, so I only took 6: Bean 'Scarlet Runner', Hollyhock 'Nigra', Midwest Native Wildflower Mix, Pale Purple Coneflower, Stiff Goldenrod, and Wild Quinine. I was particularly pleased by the first two, which I had skipped while whittling down my catalog orders. Stiff Goldenrod and Wild Quinine are also exciting as these will be new wildflowers for me. I didn't take anything where there was only one packet left, since I'm not short on seeds.
You may also donate seeds. I'll need to spend some time sorting through mine to see what I have enough of to share. Certainly the Shithouse Marigolds (which will need a more family-friendly nickname for this venue) and probably the mixed sunflowers from last year. I plan to donate more seeds than I took, to help keep the supply going. Label with at least the plant name, location, and year; hand the packages of seeds to the reference librarian. I'm delighted to have this way of spreading my landrace and open-pollinated seeds.
Next time I want to visit this seed library in December or January, before I do most of my seed shopping in catalogs. With catalog prices running $3-5 or more, and store prices slightly less, it's a great chance to save money.
If you are anywhere in central Illinois, the Urbana Free Library Seed Exchange is well worth visiting; if you're traveling, bring something to donate if you can. Most highly recommended! Others in the vicinity include the Odell Public Library DIstrict Seed Library in Odell, The Seed Library at Fondulac District Library in Peoria, and Marshall Public Library's Seed Library in Marshall. The others all seem to be for members only though.
