Cedar Mill Library added a new collection last November. The Seed Library is a collection of seeds that are available to the public for free.

Adult Services Outreach Librarian, Erin Bell, heads the project. Erin said, “We started a seed library in hopes of helping our patrons preserve and promote Cedar Mill and Bethany’s green spaces and rural heritage while making the community pollinator-friendly. Our hope is to give our community the resources they need to create or tend that wonderful garden they have been meaning to get around to.”

The seeds are donated by Oregon Food Bank, Seed Savers Exchange, and Territorial Seed Company. The library will soon add native seeds certified by native plant nurseries and Back Yard Bird Habitat gardeners.

A library card is not required to pick out seeds from the library. All seeds are free, and each family is encouraged to limit themselves to three seed packets per month.

Cedar Mill and Bethany Community Libraries also offer a series of gardening programs each spring. The first program of 2024 will be Starting Your Vegetable Garden presented by the OSU Extension Master Gardeners on February 29 at 6:30 pm at Cedar Mill Community Library.