COVID-19 Resources

Seed Libraries in a Time of Crisis: COVID & Beyond

Presentation by Laurel Anderson, Community Seed Exchange, Sebastopol CA, USA, Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick, Co-Founder, The Seed Library at Rochester Public Library, and Keri Ostby; Head of Technical Services, The Seed Library at Rochester Public Library, Rochester, MN, USA, & Rebecca Newburn; Co-Founder, Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library, Richmond, CA, USA

Resources on Sharing Seeds Safely

Virtual Seed Swaps 

Resources explaining the safety measures that packers, deliverers,  borrowers, and Little Free Seed Library hosts need to follow. NOTE: This was made when the science was indicating transmission was by contact with surfaces. We're keeping this up should we have another pandemic transmitted by surface contact. 

Note to hosts

What folks are doing...

Minutes from seed library meetings
Minneapolis
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How to support new gardeners

• Free consultations for backyard gardeners
• Encourage folks to offer virtual garden mentoring via Facebook or NextDoor
• Absolute Beginner's Vegetable Gardening Class - this needs bioregional adaptations; this is for the San Francisco Bay Area

Presentation by Mike Riesterer and Abbey Palmer; Co-founders, Queen City Seed Library, Marquette, MI, USA at the 10th Annual Seed. Library Summit, April 17, 2021. Slide presentation

Ideas on How to Share Seeds

• Need to have a safety protocol for packing, delivery, borrower & host protocols
• Mail order: Make a Google Form and only offer things that can be planted now. Don't offer variety choices. Ex. Summer squash, winter squash.
• Curbside pick-up: Could be pickup of orders or just putting out some one the sidewalk and announcing pickup times
• Open alternate locations: 
  • Community markets
  • Bike shops
  • Churches / religious organizations providing food 
  • Food pantry
  • School sites offering free and reduced lunch )maybe 1-2 days only)
  • Little Free Libraries - make sure that the doors are kept ajar
• Get volunteers - Google form; Sign-up Genius