Seeds from a library

If you are looking to make your garden beautiful by growing flowers, fruits and vegetables stop by the Saratoga Branch Library to pick your seeds. The Saratoga Seed Library program was created by the Saratoga Friends of the Library as a way to encourage people to garden in their own homes.

This is the 9th year of the Seed Library program at the Saratoga Library. The program was founded by Jacob Mickelsen, former Executive Director of the Carbon County Library System and former branch manager of the Saratoga Branch Library. He suggested this ideal to the Friends of The Library.

Carol Blake, member of the Saratoga Friends of the Library, said every year her group puts in a little money into the program. This year the Saratoga Friends of The Library has put $900 into seeds and equipment. She said that this program is a way to give back to the community and to help create a beautiful garden environment for those who like to grow produce and plants in their back or front yard. This provides an opportunity for anyone to stop by and pick the seeds they want for free.

“Friends of the Library have purchased a lot of seeds and put them in small packets for anyone who wants to use them for their home garden,” Blake said. “We have seeds for vegetables, flowers, herbs and hopefully we have things that will grow well here.”

Blake said this program will encourage healthy eating. She said home gardening is the best way to get the community to grow healthy fruits and vegetables as part of an everyday healthy lifestyle.

“What we are doing is giving back to the community by encouraging healthy eating,” Blake said. “It’s a good way to get people to go out doors and to adapt to a healthy lifestyle.”

Blake said it is a good time to get the seeds now for indoors and outdoors. Seed Lending Libraries are available through the Carbon County Library System. These libraries are situated in Elk Mountain, Little Snake River Valley, Rawlins, and Saratoga.

Jessica Mustard, programming director for Carbon County Library System, said the Carbon County Library has collaborated with Abby Perry from the UW Extension Office in Carbon County to enhance the seed lending libraries.

“Recently, we kicked off the opening of these libraries with Mrs. Perry’s insightful session on starting and growing seeds in Wyoming,” Mustard said. “Attendees had the opportunity to gather valuable information free of charge.”

Mustard said the seed lending libraries are open to all patrons, offering a diverse range of free seeds. CCLS is committed to expanding and improving these libraries annually to better serve the community. While it entails considerable effort, the CCLS has identified a community need and is dedicated to fulfilling it.