Wis. libraries allow patrons to take home seeds, plant them in gardens and return new ones

MADISON, Wis. — A handful of libraries across the state now allow residents to share seeds, and other libraries are studying the results to decide whether they should do the same.

The program allows patrons to take home heirloom seeds, plant them in their gardens and then return to the library at the end of the season with seeds generated from the original plants, the Wisconsin State Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1eCrUXt ).

The La Crosse Public Library began a seed program in February following a year of research and planning, spokeswoman Kelly Becker said. The program has proven popular because people are increasingly interested in eating local and knowing where their food is coming from.

Since its launch, the La Crosse seed library has shared more than 600 seeds.

"There has been a lot of interest," Becker said. "We were almost overwhelmed at first."

At least three other libraries in Green Lake, La Farge and Wonewoc have similar programs, said Martha Van Pelt, director of the South Central Library System.

The Mount Horeb Public Library hopes to start a seed-sharing program next spring, library director Jessica Williams said. She predicted it would do well because of the area's agrarian roots.

One source the library is considering is Seed Savers Exchange, an Iowa-based nonprofit that works to conserve endangered crops by growing and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.

"The idea is a seed itself — it has to grow," Williams said.

The Madison Public Library system also is looking into whether a seed-sharing library might be sustainable, said Michael Spelman, the supervisor of the Goodman South branch. He said he liked the concept but he wanted to be sure it could succeed along with the library' other programs.