Return Policy
What is your expectation of members to return seeds or replenish stock? This will vary on your community as well as space requirements and food security considerations.
No returns required
If you're community does not have a lot of gardeners, then you may be starting a seed library to get folks to start growing a portion of their food. You may want to mention seed saving, but not make it a requirement. Also, if you are very urban and space is scarce and food security is an issue, then you may want to de-emphasize the seed saving aspect and not make it a requirement. Additionally, your first year, you may want members to know that seed saving is encouraged, but just getting the word out about the seed library and getting started may be a full plate for you. Note that it doesn't all need to happen at once. Do what feels good and inspires you. The rest can come later.
Return "Super Easy" Plants
Seed quality is a concern in seed libraries. To ensure the quality of your stock, since most folks don't know much about seed saving, having people learn and return seeds that are "super easy" to save reliably is a great starting point. Some "super easy" plants are beans, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, and arugula.
1. Label your seeds by ease of seed saving. Signs are available in the Dropbox under "Drawer Organization."
2. In your orientation information, explain that you want folks only to save from "super easy" until they have learned more. Here is a brochure about saving "super easy" plants. There will be a Spanish version available under the translated resources soon.
3. Let folks know that they should not return seeds from other drawers until they have learned more about seed saving. You can encourage them to replace seeds with store bought, open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds if they want to. Your request may or may not be appropriate based on the community you are serving.
Replenish All Seeds
If you have a more closed system (not in a public library), and in particular, if your library's focus is on preserving unique and rare varieties, then you may stipulate that members are allowed to only borrow seeds that they know how to save properly. If they are unable to save seed for some reason, you may chose to encourage folks to replace seeds with interesting store bought, open-pollinated seeds.
No returns required
If you're community does not have a lot of gardeners, then you may be starting a seed library to get folks to start growing a portion of their food. You may want to mention seed saving, but not make it a requirement. Also, if you are very urban and space is scarce and food security is an issue, then you may want to de-emphasize the seed saving aspect and not make it a requirement. Additionally, your first year, you may want members to know that seed saving is encouraged, but just getting the word out about the seed library and getting started may be a full plate for you. Note that it doesn't all need to happen at once. Do what feels good and inspires you. The rest can come later.
Return "Super Easy" Plants
Seed quality is a concern in seed libraries. To ensure the quality of your stock, since most folks don't know much about seed saving, having people learn and return seeds that are "super easy" to save reliably is a great starting point. Some "super easy" plants are beans, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, and arugula.
1. Label your seeds by ease of seed saving. Signs are available in the Dropbox under "Drawer Organization."
2. In your orientation information, explain that you want folks only to save from "super easy" until they have learned more. Here is a brochure about saving "super easy" plants. There will be a Spanish version available under the translated resources soon.
3. Let folks know that they should not return seeds from other drawers until they have learned more about seed saving. You can encourage them to replace seeds with store bought, open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds if they want to. Your request may or may not be appropriate based on the community you are serving.
Replenish All Seeds
If you have a more closed system (not in a public library), and in particular, if your library's focus is on preserving unique and rare varieties, then you may stipulate that members are allowed to only borrow seeds that they know how to save properly. If they are unable to save seed for some reason, you may chose to encourage folks to replace seeds with interesting store bought, open-pollinated seeds.
