Madison County Extension Seed Library 

According to betterhealth.vic.org, youth learn about responsibility, self-confidence, nutrition, physical activity, and reasoning from gardening! While youth may receive all of these benefits from starting a garden, gardening with a caring adult or as a family would allow for increased time together, and support healthy relationships. As an extension staff comprised of a horticulture agent, agriculture and natural resources agent, family and consumer sciences agents, and two 4-H agents, we decided to offer a seed library for our clientele this year. Throughout this long-term project, we offered free seed packets to all clients as they came in the building on our carousel. We provided SNAP recipes as well so people could have a nutritious way to prepare the vegetables they grew from the seeds.

At the end of last growing season, I called any store who sells seeds and asked them to donate them to extension. We got over 1,000 seed packs donated! Volunteers and staff had to be called upon to sort the seeds. Then I applied for an AG Mini grant through the Kentucky 4-H Foundation to fund the carousel and additional packs of seeds. 

Outside of the initial scope of the project, there we secondary benefits of the project! our Horticulture agent also had a seed swap that utilized packets of seeds, and our Family Consumer Science Agent helped install handicap accessible garden beds at one of our local nursing homes, and they also utilized seeds from the library. As a 4-H agent, I had the opportunity to host a 4-H Horticulture Judging Program where youth learn to judge and identify vegetables, fruits, and other plants. We also used seeds from the library for this project. 

Overall, we ended up giving away seeds to over 818 people this year! That is 818 families who had the opportunity to garden together! Whether a family has the space to do raised beds, container gardens, or even conventional gardens in plowed soil, they all require seeds and we are so grateful for the opportunity to provide them!