Madison County Extension Seed Library 

The Madison County Extension Agents wanted to help address a multi-faceted need within the community. According to betterhealth.vic.org, “youth learn about responsibility, self-confidence, nutrition, physical activity, and reasoning from gardening!” While youth may receive all 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 well as support healthy nutritional options within families, who may have limited resources. NEP also reminds us that “fresh is best”, and since Extension staff are ambassadors for local produce, we felt it was essential to help fill a gap where there is a need in the local community with raising fresh produce.   Some families might lack the funds to adequately afford fresh produce routinely for their family, or lack the skills or education needed to properly prepare the things they can grow.  

As an extension staff comprised of a horticulture agent, agriculture and natural resources agent, family and consumer sciences agent, and two 4-H agents, The Madison County Extension office offered a seed library for our local clientele this year. The seeds that were offered in the library were very diverse and consisted of many types or varieties of fruits and vegetables, including but not limited to squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, turnips, onions, kale, collards, radishes, celery, cabbage, okra, beans, peppers, and even some herbs such as thyme, basil, and dill. Throughout this long-term project, which ran throughout the course of the 2023 growing season, we offered free seed packets to all clients as they entered the building on a carousel. We provided several various SNAP recipes as well so people could have a nutritious way to prepare the vegetables they grew from the seeds. 

Outside of the initial scope of the project, there were two secondary benefits of the project! The 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, where they also utilized seeds from the library. 

Overall, through this group project, the Madison County office gave 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 use raised beds, container gardens, or conventional gardens in plowed soil, they all require seeds. The Agents staffed at the Madison County Extension office are so grateful to provide this opportunity within the community!