‘The Dewey Seed System’

Free seeds at the library draws volunteers

PRIEST RIVER – Almost anything can be checked out of libraries these days besides just books.

For patrons at the West Bonner Library District, that includes gardening seeds. Sunflowers, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, radishes and more line the drawers of the Priest River Library’s old card catalogue system from the 1940s.

“And just like that, food insecurity is ended,” quips Katie Crill, who established the seed library in 2014 after getting the idea from Rural Life magazine.

“Really though, we just want this to be an easily accessible resource for people, whether you’re a gardening pro or just getting started.”

Six volunteers met in the Priest River Library last Thursday, Jan.

30, dividing seeds into meticulously labeled packets. The packets were passed to Tim Devine who placed them in alphabetical order in the card catalogue drawers laid out before him.

Devine saw a press release in the Bonner County Daily Bee advertising the event and decided to check it out.

“I actually thought it was going to be like a lecture on seed saving,” Devine says, good-naturedly.

“They ended up putting me right to work. I’m having fun though and learning things, so no complaints.” The West Bonner Seed Savers are an unofficial group that meets periodically with no set schedule, though events are announced on the library’s website, the WBSS Facebook page and in local newspapers. The Facebook page has 36 members. There are no dues.

“The seed library operates on the honor system,” Crill says.

Though people aren’t required to bring seeds back in exchange for checking them out, it is encouraged. Basic seed saving guidelines are available and patrons are asked to leave their name, contact information (phone or email) and the number of seed packets they are taking on the clipboard provided. After planting and harvesting, patrons can clean, dry and label the seeds and return them to the library with a seed donation form.

Volunteers then package the seeds for redistribution.

Crill estimates the library gave out over 300 seed packets last fall.

“It’s a great way to get involved in the community and connect with other gardeners,” volunteer Melodie Gunn says. “And with food prices being what they are right now, it’s a good resource.”

Gunn jokingly refers to the see card catalogue as, “the Dewey Seed System” in place of the Dewey Decimal System, the classification system created by educator and librarian Melvil Dewey in 1876 to help library users find books.

Donated seeds should be open-pollinated, non-GMO. Seeds coming from people’s gardens should also be collected from fully mature plants, cleaned and dried before donation. It’s requested that donated seeds be labeled with information as to type, variety, place and year of harvest.

For more information, email [email protected] or join the Facebook group West Bonner Seed Savers.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT RANGE MEDIA AND THE NEWPORT MINER NEWSPAPERS THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.