Gardeners in Olive Branch now have a free place to pick up and share seeds. DeSoto County Master Gardeners opened the new Olive Branch seed library at B.J. Chain Public Library on Oct. 17, the group’s third seed library in the county, the DeSoto Times-Tribune reported.
The volunteers started their first seed library in Hernando about two years ago and added one in Southaven last year. With the new Olive Branch location, residents in three of the county’s largest cities now have a seed-sharing spot close to home.
How the Olive Branch seed library works
The idea is simple: residents can take seeds at no cost and bring back seeds they have saved from their own plants. The collection is sorted into four groups:
Herbs
Flowers
Vegetables
Donated seeds
The library also accepts new, unopened seed packets. Organizers say they especially want native plants such as milkweed and goldenrod, and saved seeds from local gardens have the advantage of already being suited to DeSoto County’s climate and insects.
A low-cost way to start gardening
Master Gardener Don Murphy described the project as a risk-free way for beginners to get seeds and learn how to plant. Terrie Smith, who coordinates the Master Gardener programs in Olive Branch, agreed. “It’s risk-free and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a seed,” she told the newspaper.
Master Gardener intern Lori Ferguson, who joined the program in April, is overseeing the B.J. Chain collection as part of her service hours. Her message to would-be gardeners: “Don’t be scared to get seeds.”
Residents who stopped by on opening day were already making plans. One said she had never heard of a seed library before and planned to try growing basil, while another who already grows tomatoes, zinnias and marigolds said she wanted to see what flowers, herbs and vegetables were available.
Helping pollinators
Beyond helping new gardeners, the Master Gardeners want to grow the number of native seeds in circulation. “The native seeds help to support native pollinators,” Murphy said. Milkweed, for example, is the only plant monarch butterfly caterpillars can eat, making it a key part of efforts to support the species as it migrates through Mississippi.
B.J. Chain Public Library is part of the First Regional Library system. Residents can check library hours before visiting, and gardeners with extra seeds from this year’s harvest are encouraged to donate them for the spring planting season.
