The Little Seed Library

As part of Butler SWCD's ongoing efforts to promote native habitat and local seed collection, we are debuting The Little Seed Library. Similar to the book and mini food pantries popping up in neighborhoods across the nation, this box will house native wildflower and garden seeds. Inside there are dozens of different seeds available, all free for the taking. Including but not limited to, milkweed, bee balm, black eyed susan, veggie seeds, and ornamental flowers. The goal of the library is to be a free source of local ecotype wildflowers and provide food security. Seed quantities are limited, so we ask that visitors take only what they need and plant everything you take so that no seed goes to waste.

If you are interested in seed saving and collecting please be conscious of what you are collecting. Adhere to local laws and technology agreements. A few good things to remember if you are seed saving are

• Only collect native, non invasive species

• Collect seed from healthy plants to limit transmission of seedborne diseases

• Make sure you are only collecting garden seeds from heirloom or non patented varieties

• Avoid collecting from cross pollinated specimens

• If you are unsure of anything do not collect

• Only collect where you have permission

Wildflower seeds are collected by the Butler Environmental Stewardship Team then cleaned and processed during one or more of our monthly volunteer events. Milkweed seed collection is part of a statewide effort called the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative https://www.ohiopollinator.org/ If you are in need of bulk quantities of milkweed for a restoration project please contact our office directly, we have quart bags available. Special thank you to Brubaker Grain and The Ohio State University Extension Office, Butler County for donating garden seed packets, and Three Valley Conservation Trust for donating the library box.

Interested in picking up seeds?

Butler SWCD

1802 Princeton Road

Suite 300

Hamilton, Ohio 45011

8:00AM-4:30PM Monday - Friday

Have seeds to drop off or questions?

butlerswcd@bcohio.gov

Exterior view of the little seed library. Located in the hallway for suites 200, 300, & 400.

Open up the library doors to access 2 dozen drawers filled with seeds ready for your garden.