Seeds at the Wellfleet Public Library
Welcome to our Seed Library, 2024.
This is the 10th year that we are offering free seeds to patrons thanks to the generosity of our Friends organization and a small group of dedicated volunteers. Seed libraries take many forms. Ours began out of concern for the rising prices of vegetable seeds for home gardeners and with hopes of encouraging new gardeners. We focus primarily on seeds of food crops, and endeavor to offer varieties that grow well on Cape Cod. The seeds are packed into amounts practical for home gardens. Because of the increased demands, this year we will offer seeds from 2024 as well as 2023 seed packets gifted to us from our friends at “New Farm” in Orleans. Most 2023 seeds will perform just fine, but may have decreased germination rates. Seed packets from other years will be clearly marked. We also have a selection of seed packets older than 2 years, which you are welcome to try. Older seeds are not listed on our website. Please take the time to read through our offerings, or come in during open hours to browse our drawers.
Please note that in the first two weeks of our seed library this year we have given out nearly 3,000 packets of seeds. Our Friends organization has generously agreed to purchase more seeds, which are now on order. We will continue to restock our seed supplies each weekend, while supplies last, through March. If you don’t see what you want, check back, or better yet email Naomi with your questions. Please put “Seed Library” in the subject line.
Check out these books on vegetable gardening available at the library.
New to gardening, or starting seeds? Try these helpful files and links:
Seed Starting- UMASS Extension
Caring for Seedlings- UMASS Extension
Container Gardening- UMASS extension
Seed Saving- Cape Cod Food Hub
Composting is Easy- POSTER
Composting Arrows by Harriet
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Article in Edible Cape by Karen Bento
Interested in No Dig gardening?
Learn more from British market gardener Charles Dowding
We are committed to purchasing seeds only from companies that pledge to offer no genetically modified seeds. Many varieties, but not all, are open pollinated, and several varieties are organic. Read more about our choices for seed companies below:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds, 955 Benton Ave, Winslow, ME 04901
Seed Savers Exchange, 3094 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds 23 Tulip Drive P.O. Box 638, Bantam, CT 06750
Fedco Seeds, PO Box 520, Clinton, ME 04927
Hudson Valley Seed Company, Accord, NY 12404
Adaptive Seeds, 25079 Brush Creek Rd., Sweet Home, OR 97386
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, 2278 Baker Creek Road Mansfield, MO 65704
Giving Ground Seeds, 147 Ellsworth Road, Chubbuck, ID 83202