CARMEL – Libraries across Putnam County are not only vital places for books and technology but thanks to the efforts of library staff in Brewster, Carmel, Mahopac, Patterson and Putnam Valley working in conjunction with Putnam Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers, seed libraries have been created.
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Jennifer Lerner said the aim of the initiative was to “spread awareness of heirloom and open-pollinated plant varieties while offering an opportunity for residents to grow their own food. If you can find a little space, you can try your hand at growing a pot of herbs or starting a vegetable patch. Our volunteers have provided the seeds.”
She said a seed library is a community-based resource for sharing seeds. “Like a regular library, gardeners borrow seeds from a seed library at planting time. At the end of the growing season, they save the seeds from their plants and return a portion of the seeds to the library,” she said.
Several of the libraries are even offering coordinated gardening programming this spring.
Master gardener volunteers are also available to help from 9 a.m. to 12 noon weekdays by calling the Horticulture Hotline at 845-278-6738 or online at mastergardener.putnam@gmail.com
