Seed Library
Discover the joy of growing your own food at home with the Seed Library.
Learn how to cultivate plants and food at home, share seeds with our community and grow your gardening knowledge at the same time. Gardening is great for mindfulness, health and well-being. The Seed Library also helps strengthen food security in our local community.
Borrowing from the Seed Library is easy – all you need is your library card!
- Borrow up to two packets of seeds
- Grow the seeds in your garden
- When it’s time to harvest, save some seeds
- Return collected seeds to the Seed Library to continue the cycle
Each seed packet is clearly labelled with the seed type, and includes a picture of the plant, as well as information for sowing and plant care. You can explore our shelves to unearth a variety of great books to help you on your gardening journey!
Books to get you started...
You can explore the Seed Library at Oak Flats Library.
Oak Flats Library is your destination for Home & Garden resources, it also provides a hub for our Green Living programs such as Green Thumb.
The mural on the exterior wall of Oak Flats Library, by Sarah McCloskey is based on the concept of providing for future generations – “Blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit”. There is also a ‘green theme’ within the library itself through the green colour palette.
All you need is your library card! You can borrow two packets of seeds each time you visit Oak Flats Library.
If you’re not a member, you can join the library today. Membership is free!
We currently offer 42 different types of seeds, including vegetables, herbs and flowers.
These seeds have been selected because they are easy-to-grow and suitable for our area. We expect our seed offerings to change over time as we discover what our local community prefers.
Our seeds are old traditional open pollinated non-hybrid varieties and have no chemical treatment, and no genetic engineering. Old varieties produce over an extended period and are generally easier to grow for the home gardener.
The seeds expiration date is stamped on the packet. All seeds have been refrigerated prior to packaging to ensure optimum shelf life. You may wish to store your seeds in the fridge at home too!
Yes! After growing in your garden, harvest and return seeds for others to borrow. Seed donations are only accepted at Oak Flats Library. We only accept donations of vegetable, herbs and perennial flower seeds. Donated seeds must be presented in a clean/dry container or zip lock bag.
We only accept;
- clean, healthy looking seeds
- all the same species rather than a mixture
We don’t accept;
- anything that looks mouldy, furry, mildew or slimy
- rotting with excess soil
- seeds with debris
Library staff will ask you to complete a seed donation envelop which needs to include;
- date collected
- seed name
- seed type
- area/location grown
You are not obligated to donate seeds. Sometimes growing from seeds does not go as planned but we encourage everyone to contribute to the Seed Library to complete the cycle.
Home & Garden magazines!
Discover all the latest gardening and growing tips and trends by browsing through the great range of Home & Garden physical magazines in our libraries. Alternatively, explore our digital magazines to help you be inspired!
Seed Library at Home
Email us a photo of your garden goodies to be featured
