By Kelsie Dewar

for the Daily Press

Much like traditional libraries that provide access to knowledge by making books available to the public, seed libraries make participation in the food system accessible by making seeds available to all.

“A seed library is, in essence, a community project where gardeners can learn about how to save seeds and then access seeds for free,” said Abbey Palmer, a community food systems educator with the Michigan State University Extension and volunteer with the Queen City Seed Library.

The Queen City Seed Library is one of several seed libraries located throughout the Upper Peninsula, a number that’s growing with community interest. Founded in 2015, the QCSL is hosted by Peter White Public Library in downtown Marquette. Seeds are packaged, organized by variety,and stored in a vintage card catalog on the main floor. Anyone can “check out” seeds from the library and are encouraged to save seeds from their harvest and return them for future patrons. It’s volunteer-run and sustained through donations.

Seed saving is important, said Palmer, because it’s integral to understanding the greater food system. It also serves as a way to build community resilience and connect people of all experience levels to their food.

“We’re looking at food security and food sovereignty in our current communities and also trying to plan for a time beyond us,” she said. “We’re hoping this community knowledge can be passed on so these seeds are available in the future and continue to tell to the story of this place.”

The QCSL was inspired by and modeled after the Alger County Seed Library in Munising, said Palmer. After gaining a footing in the Marquette community, QCSL organizers then paid it forward by passing on their knowledge to other corners of the U.P. Following a presentation by Mike Riesterer of the QCSL, Rachael Pressley was inspired to start one at her local library.

“I felt strongly that making seeds available for free was a really important missing piece of our local food system,” said Pressley. Drawing on the experience of established seed libraries, Pressley organized the Portage Lake Seed Library, located within the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton.

“(Queen City Seed Library) has been incredibly supportive-really giving with the information that they provided,” she said. “I didn’t really know that much about seeds before that. I gardened a bit, but only transplants, until this year. So it was under their incredible direction that a beginner such as myself could move forward.”

QCSL donated seeds to get the PLSL started, helped secure grant funding,and connected Pressley with seed donors. A lot of work went in to organizing the library, she said, walking through the process of collecting seeds, organizing them by variety, labeling and dating, germination testing, repacking, stocking, and hosting outreach events.

It was worth it, said Pressley, as seed libraries are a resource that every community should have. When given free of charge, people are provided an opportunity to grow their own food without risk. They’re also oftentimes more willing to experiment and try new things, she said. “It’s important to provide land for people to garden on, soil and seeds,”said Pressley. “Those caretaking relationships we all once had, for each other and for the land, we’ve become distant from. Everything is nowmore about the individual than the collective. Seed libraries start to break down those barriers and invite the community back into the food system.”

Seed saving is deeply rooted in Anishinaabe agricultural traditions and is important to the Indigenous culture, helping to provide access to culturally appropriate foods that thrive in the local climate. Pressley is working with the Ojibwe Community Library in Baraga to start a seed library, creating yet another branch or growth from the library in Munising.

Officials at the public library in Ontonagon have also shown interest by requesting more information about the startup process. “Seeds are the base of our food system; they are the foundation on which everything grows,” said Pressley. “They’re so small, but they’re so significant -in the stories we tell, the relationships we have with the land and the people that live there… it’s hard to not wax poetic about seeds and the importance of seed libraries.”

For beginners looking to get started with seed saving, Palmer recommended first trying an easy variety like peas with flowers that are self-pollinating. Simply allow the pods to grow large and tough. Eventually the plants will begin to dry down. Harvest by picking individual dry pods or pulling entire plants out of the ground and off the trellis. Shell the seeds. Pea seed will remain viable for three years under cool and dry storage conditions.

Since seed libraries are almost always community volunteer-based projects, there are likely opportunities to get involved in your local library. Many also host educational events or seed swaps, which usually occur in late winter or early spring. “Don’t be afraid to experiment,” said Palmer. “Ask questions, absorb knowledge. There are many books available and online resources galore-and a seed or plant swap is a place to meet other people interested in seed saving and learn from them.”