With seeds from the Forsyth County Public Library and Forsyth County Master Gardeners Seed Library and a sprinkling of sunshine, of course!
The Hampton Park Library launched FCPL’s Seed Library this spring with several selections of vegetables, cooking herbs, edible flowers, and pollinator flowers – all generously donated by the Forsyth County Master Gardeners. The seed library offers an alphabet of seeds that are open pollinated, ideal for our local growing conditions, and offer local pollinators generous biodiversity.
Using the Seed Library
When you visit the Seed Library at our Hampton Park branch, simply take a pinch of the seeds you want and put them in a little pouch with a sticker labeling what the seeds are and how they should be handled.
First-time borrowers should fill out a registration form for the Master Gardeners’ records. Then, take the seeds home and start gardening!
In return for the seeds, participants are encouraged (but not required) to either bring a plant from the seeds to add to a community garden or to volunteer for a 30-minute shift in a community garden.
Heirloom Quality Seeds
The Master Gardeners will continue to donate seeds for the Seed Library, rather than exchanging seeds.
“We want to respect the benefits and heirloom quality of the Seed Library by offering only seeds in accordance with the Department of Agriculture Federal Seed Act and Georgia’s Seed Laws. We look forward to community discussions around the important information on the Seed Labels, saving seeds, improving your success with sowing seeds, and caring for seedlings,” says Juliet Foster, Forsyth County Master Gardening Community Garden Coordinator.
Volunteer at Community Garden Days
Cumming Library, Hampton Park Library and Post Road Library offer monthly Community Garden Days and invite patrons and community members to play in the dirt, working on seasonal projects and activities led by a Forsyth County Master Gardener Advisor that help maintain the beauty of these community gardens.
Each month's project will take about an hour to complete and all tools and supplies will be provided.
Be sure to wear sunscreen and clothes appropriate for working outdoors. You might also like to bring your own gloves.
Community Garden Days are family-friendly, so feel free to bring a friend or your children and let them learn about plants and gardening, too!
“I am excited that Hampton Park Library is offering residents a wide variety of heirloom and open pollinated seeds. I look forward to meeting seed library friends that share my passion for growing food and flowers in an environmentally friendly way. We would love to see you in one of our many community gardens,” says Foster.
If you would like to make plans to attend one of the Community Garden Days, you can chose from any of the following:
Cumming Library Secret Garden
Meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the growing season
Hampton Park Library Butterfly Garden
Meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second Friday of each month in the growing season
Post Road Library Poetry Garden
Meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Friday of each month in the growing season
Sexton Hall LiveWell Garden
Meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second Monday of each month in the growing season
For detailed information on Community Garden Days, please refer to the events calendar at www.forsythpl.org.
