The Thorntown Public Library announced the launch of a seed library for patrons and community members that will begin next month as a free program open to all ages with no library card necessary.
The first year of the project is being funded in part by a grant from Boone County Master Gardeners. The program is intended to help address the food insecurity in the community by offering the knowledge to plant and care for a fruit, vegetable, herb or flower garden as well as providing resources to begin the gardens.
As part of the program, the library plans to offer garden educational programs. Local History Librarian Kirsten Wamsley commented about the importance of the program.
“As the Boone County community grows, Thorntown continues to not have a grocery store that provides fresh fruit or vegetables,” Wamsley said. “Our small town deserves to have that access to fresh produce. I have made it a personal mission of mine to make some kind of difference in the health and knowledge of our community members.”
By offering a seed library, the library aims to increase the access of fresh produce by providing the resources and knowledge for gardening to everyone who walks in the doors.
The 2025 seed library will be launched the first day of spring, and run through the first day of summer. Seeds can be requested through the end of September even if they are not on public display. The program will operate on an honor system. Seeds will be available for free to anyone who comes into the library. The library asks that participants only take 2 packets a visit, or 5 a week. At the end of the season, unused and harvested seeds can be donated to the library for use in the next season. The library is not responsible for any seeds that do not germinate.
Community members with questions about the program or anyone interested in donating to the seed library may contact Kirsten Wamsley by calling the library 765-436-7348, or emailing kwamsley@thorntownpl.org.
