Seeds You Can Borrow, Stories You Can Grow!

Though I am not much of a gardener, I have grown my fair share of vegetables, flowers, and other plants, to varying degrees of success. I know a few basics are needed, including some rich soil, good seeds, and the right amount of water and sunshine. With some luck and attention and T.L.C., the seeds will become plants that provide healthy food, wonderful aromas, and beautiful leaves and petals.

In many ways, then, libraries resemble gardens. The library itself, Wickson in particular, is a bed of rich soil, the books and wide array of programs the seeds that have been planted, and the librarians and other community members the sunshine and water that help the seeds of knowledge and joy grow and flourish all year. How perfect, then, that Wickson is the place to find both literal and figurative seeds.

Once again Wickson is showcasing its Seed Library for 2026. Not only can you check books out of the library, but you can also check out seeds!

Wickson’s Seed Library is part of the Michigan Seed Library Network and the One Seed, One State initiative. The goal is to pool community resources to “…provide networking opportunities, guidance, and educational resources…to promote sustainable agriculture, food systems, and social systems…” Saving and sharing seeds every year not only benefits the planters, but also biodiversity and myriad ways to connect with the earth and with each other. Wickson is one of approximately 331 seed libraries across the state.

So, how does the seed library work?

1. First, visit the library! Just past the new release shelves by the circulation desk, you will find a rolling cart with colorful drawers and a binder on top. This is the seed library.

2. Next, take some time to peruse the seed options – you will find vegetables alphabetized for easy collection if you know what you want. You will also find greens, herbs, and a wide variety of flowers to choose from. The packets are labeled with valuable planting information, including details about how and where they should be planted and how to care for them as they grow.

3. Once you have chosen the seeds you would like, fill out the checkout sheet in the binder. Part of the benefit of the seed library is knowing what seeds people checked out and how many people participated. Numbers have been growing, with 80 participants in 2024 and 105 in 2025.

4. The next step is to take your seeds home and plant them, then give them what they need to grow. Later, you will harvest the fruits of your labor and return the seeds from your harvest. Wickson will also follow up with participants to find out how things went.

One important aspect of the seed library is harvesting and returning seeds to the library whenever possible, though that is not required to use the seed library. If you have questions about how to do this, there are many resources available on the Wickson Library website in the Services tab, and you can of course ask the helpful librarians at Wickson for some direction.

Start growing with Wickson today!