We encourage participants to engage in the cycle of sustainability by saving seeds from their gardens and contributing them back to the library. This practice not only ensures the ongoing enrichment of our seed collection but also plays a crucial role in preserving plant genetic diversity. Donated seeds will be made available during the next growing season and donors will be acknowledged on seed envelope labels. We invite you to pledge to return seeds to the seed library! This pledge is simply you saying, “I’m going to make an effort to return seeds to the seed library this year.” You get to decide what seeds you want to collect and return, how much, and when you return them. How do I pledge to return seeds to the GCC Seed Library?

1. Peruse our seed collection and help yourself to the seeds of your choice
2. Indicate on the patron form if you would like to pledge to return seeds
3. Take a seed pledge reminder card and put it somewhere visible in your home

Seed library organizers will reach out periodically to check in, and offer seed collection support. Drop off seed donations anytime during regular library service hours. Thank you for helping us sustain this resource and helping us build community!

Seeds collected from your garden:
We welcome donations of seeds collected from your garden. Please ensure the following: the seeds come from open-pollinated plants + they are clean, dry, are in an envelope or zip lock bag, and are labeled (with variety and approximate date of collection).  You can drop donations off at the front desk of the library anytime during regular service hours. You’ll be asked to fill out a seed donation intake form during drop off. If your seeds originated from the GCC Seed Library they will be added to our seed inventory and distributed the following year. Seeds that did not orginate from our seed library will be placed in a basket and offered to the community separately. Not sure how to collect seeds from your garden? Attend one of our Seed Saving workshops, reach out to us with questions, or check out these basic resources from Seed Savers Exchange:

• Seed Saving Basics
• Webinar: Seed Saving for Beginners

Commercial seeds:
Do you have left over commercial seeds you’d like to share with other growers? We accept donations of new or open packets of commercial seeds. These seeds will be placed in a basket and offered to the community.

Our 2025 seed catalog will be posted in March.

The GCC Seed Library launched in the spring of 2015. It was the brainchild of librarian Hope Schneider and science faculty member Anthony Reiber, with startup money provided by the Nahman-Watson Library and the Science Department’s SAGE program (Sustainable Agriculture and Green Energy).

Librarians and Reiber toured the seed library at Hampshire College, a project launched by one of their students, during the planning phase. Science department interns and library student workers joined the effort, and continue to support the work of the seed library by sorting and packaging seeds, and also caring for plants offered during our annual plant swap. The seed library was initially open only to GCC students and staff but has since expanded to offer seeds to anyone from the community.