Cleveland Seed Bank opens Seed Library Program

Willoughby-Eastlake system taking part

The Cleveland Seed Bank announced the grand opening of its Seed Library Program on March 20, the first day of spring.

A dozen seed libraries are sprouting up in partnership with the Cleveland, Elyria, Rocky River, Shaker Heights, and Willoughby public library systems.

Since the inception of the program eight years ago, CSB has relied on library partners for the storage and distribution of their collection of seeds in order to make seeds more accessible to those in the community.

Locals are encouraged to visit their nearest seed library to freely check out up to five seed packets per month from a selection of 24 different organic, openpollinated vegetable, herb, and flower varieties.

Seed libraries reconnect people with their food, encourage stewardship of biodiversity, and promote active, healthy lifestyles. This is a free community resource that is generously sponsored by the library branches themselves and by local businesses, like Wayside Furniture and Tunnel Vision Hoops. “We have thought deeply about how seed has the potential to build resilient, self-sufficient communities – especially now more than ever before”, stated Marilyn McHugh, Executive Director of the Cleveland Seed Bank.

Scheduled Seed Library locations for the year include:

• Cleveland Public Library – Addison Branch: 6901 Superior Ave.

• Cleveland Public Library – Carnegie West Branch: 1900 Fulton Road.

• Cleveland Public Library – Collinwood Branch: 856 E. 152nd St.

• Cleveland Public Library – Downtown Main Branch: 325 Superior Ave.

• Cleveland Public Library – East 131st Branch: 3830 E. 131st St.

• Cleveland Public Library – Lorain Branch: 8216 Lorain Ave.

• Cleveland Public Library – Edgewater Bookbox

• Cleveland Public Library – Wade Oval Bookbox

• Elyria Public Library – West River Branch: 1194 W. River Road.

• Rocky River Public Library: 1600 Hampton Road.

• Shaker Heights Public Library: 16500 Van Aken Blvd.

• Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library: 30 Public Sq.

The Seed Library Program is open through Sept. 22.