Return Policy
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. Please clearly state that folks may borrow seeds, but there is no requirement to return seeds. Requiring them to return seeds can be seen as a contractual obligation and be put you in a grey zone of commercial regulations. You can encourage folks to save seeds and return some and explain why this is beneficial to the community. However, 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. 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.
Encourage Saving "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.
4. Do not save seeds from commercial hybrids for the library. They will not come out true to type (like the parent) and some may have introduce male sterility into your seeds.
5. Do not save and share seeds from any plant that has a label of PVP (plant variety protected). We respect the rights of traditional breeders. However, we are enthusiastic about breeders who have labelled their plants OSSI (Open Seed Source Initiative). NOTE: Johnny's Select Seed is a company that offers a large number of PVP varieties. Please be careful if you are purchasing seeds from there for your seed library.
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. Please clearly state that folks may borrow seeds, but there is no requirement to return seeds. Requiring them to return seeds can be seen as a contractual obligation and be put you in a grey zone of commercial regulations. You can encourage folks to save seeds and return some and explain why this is beneficial to the community. However, 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. 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.
Encourage Saving "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.
4. Do not save seeds from commercial hybrids for the library. They will not come out true to type (like the parent) and some may have introduce male sterility into your seeds.
5. Do not save and share seeds from any plant that has a label of PVP (plant variety protected). We respect the rights of traditional breeders. However, we are enthusiastic about breeders who have labelled their plants OSSI (Open Seed Source Initiative). NOTE: Johnny's Select Seed is a company that offers a large number of PVP varieties. Please be careful if you are purchasing seeds from there for your seed library.
