Seed Library
Take and add vegetable, herb and flower seeds to the Seed Library.
Welcome To Our Seed Library
The UT-TSU Extension Agency is an excellent resource and has an office here in
Giles County at 132 S. Second Street (next to the Library).
Resources
Seed Library Guidelines
A Seed Library works much like a traditional library—but instead of borrowing books, you "check out" seeds to grow in your own garden!
At the Giles County Public Library, our Seed Library is housed in a beautifully repurposed vintage card catalog. Seed packets are organized alphabetically into three easy-to-browse categories: Herbs, Vegetables, and Flowers.
Whether you're an experienced gardener or planting your very first seeds, you're welcome to browse the collection and select seeds to take home. As your plants grow, we encourage you to save seeds from your healthiest plants and donate them back to the Seed Library when possible. This helps our collection continue to grow and allows others in the community to enjoy gardening, too.
The Seed Library is free to use and is a wonderful way to learn new gardening skills, try different plant varieties, and help cultivate a stronger, greener community—one seed at a time!
Thank you for helping our Seed Library grow! By donating quality seeds and returning unused seed packets, you're helping gardeners throughout our community enjoy successful harvests for years to come.
Before Donating Seeds
1. Check the Age of Your Seeds Older seeds may have a lower germination rate. Before donating, make sure your seeds are still viable. If you're unsure, consider performing a simple germination test. Seeds that are no longer viable should be discarded rather than donated.
2. Package Your Seeds Please place seeds in a small container or packet, such as:
- A resealable plastic bag (Ziploc®-style)
- A coin envelope
- A small paper envelope
- Another clean, secure container suitable for storing seeds
3. Returning Unused Seeds If you take home more seeds than you need, you're welcome to return any unused seeds to the Seed Library so others can enjoy them.
4. Donating Commercial Seed Packets If you're donating store-bought seeds, please ensure the packet is:
Unopened
Clearly labeled with the seed variety and planting information
Within its recommended planting or use date
Saving Seeds from Your Garden
Some plants naturally cross-pollinate with other varieties of the same species. If you're saving seeds from these plants, proper isolation is important to ensure they remain true to variety. We recommend consulting a reliable seed-saving guide or chart before collecting seeds from cross-pollinating plants.
If you're unsure whether cross-pollination occurred, please label the packet: "May Have Crossed", or "Crossed" This information helps future gardeners know what to expect.
Labeling Your Seed Donations
Please include as much information as possible with every seed donation. Helpful information includes:
- Year the seeds were harvested or packaged (if not already listed)
- Common name and variety
- Example: Instead of simply "Lettuce," write "Black Seeded Simpson Loose leaf Lettuce" or another specific variety.
- Description (optional but helpful)
- Color, flavor, plant size, or other unique characteristics
- Grower's Name (optional)
- A note if the seeds may have cross-pollinated
- Clean and Dry Seeds
Before donating, please make sure your seeds are:
- Completely dry
- Free of dirt and debris
- Cleaned of excess plant material (chaff)
- Properly cleaned and dried seeds store better and help ensure successful germination for the next gardener.
Thank you for supporting the Giles County Public Library Seed Library. Together, we're growing a stronger, greener community—one seed at a time!
Seed Saving Basics