OREGON, Ill. – The Seed Library is a new program available at the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library in collaboration with the Ogle County Extension Master Gardeners. The program aims to educate the community about the rewards of gardening and seed saving.
The Seed Library is housed in a repurposed card catalog and is divided into four seed categories: herbs, flowers, native plants, and vegetables.
The seed library will grow when community members donate the seeds they plant and harvest back to the library. Participants borrow 8-10 packets of seeds per fall and spring growing season.
This free program is available to all community members. You do not need a library card to participate. Just pick up seeds inside the library entrance when the library is open.
Don’t forget to register for the Seed Saving 101 workshop on September 23 at 6 p.m. by calling the library at 815-562-3431. The Ogle County Master Gardeners will instruct how to save seeds from vegetable plants. All are welcome to this free event, and all supplies are included.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.