Seed Library

Libraries are vital places in our community that offer much more than books! Seed Libraries can be found at all the public libraries in Putnam County, thanks to the continued efforts of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County Master Gardener Volunteers.

The aim is to spread awareness of heirloom and open-pollinated plant varieties while offering an opportunity for residents to grow their own food.

Celebrate the Humble Seed

A seed is a promise. Within each seed is all the energy and food it needs to grow. It is the kickstart of life for many of the plants that we grow and harvest for food.For thousands of years people have carried seeds with them as they migrated to new lands, a source of sustenance, that reminded people from whence they came and fed them in new environments.

Today, much of our food is grown on large scale commercial farms, where a single crop, a monoculture, is produced for high yields that can be shipped to markets predictably.The proliferation of small farms in the Hudson Valley offer a greater diversity of crops, including heirloom varieties of vegetables, for distribution to local restaurants and grocers.

YOU, the home gardener, are the greatest source of promise for the future of open pollinated heirloom plants and seeds.By growing even some of your garden from seeds and then saving and sharing a bit of that seed, you are continuing the tradition of preserving history.These seeds have adapted to local conditions, developing resilience to the vagaries of climate and soil.

Seeds, in the words of Henry David Thoreau, are a perfect adaptation – a prophecy not only of the fall, but of future springs.

Need more help? 

Master Gardener Volunteers are also available to help you 9:00 AM to Noon weekdays on the Horticulture Hotline (845) 278-6738 or via mastergardener.putnam@gmail.com

Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers raise funds to support community projects like this by hosting a yearly plant sale, this year—May 10th at Veterans Park on Gypsy Trail Road in Kent!

Last updated April 7, 2025