Library Launches the 4th Annual Community Seed Drive

Published on October 31, 2025

The Los Alamos Public Library has kicked off the annual seed drive to support the Community Seed Library. Seed donations are accepted now and through the winter at both library locations and the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC).

The Community Seed Library operates on a simple cycle: borrow, grow, return. Hosted by the Library in collaboration with PEEC, and run by volunteers, the program invites gardeners to borrow seeds in the spring, grow their plants through the season, and return harvested seeds in the fall. While the seed cabinets remain open year-round, they are restocked every winter to prepare for the official spring launch each March, when drawers are filled with a wide variety of seeds for the community.

The seed library relies on donations to sustain its collection. All seeds are welcome, including unopened commercial packets, but locally grown and harvested seeds are especially encouraged. These donations help build a robust supply of seeds adapted to the region’s growing conditions.

Donation boxes are located on the sides of the seed cabinets at each library branch. Inside the boxes, donors will find labels to record key details about their seeds, including species and variety, color, where they were grown, and when they were harvested. Donors are asked to use paper bags instead of plastic, as plastic can trap moisture and cause seeds to rot. Paper bags are available at both donation sites. Seeds may also be donated at the Los Alamos Nature Center, where PEEC staff are collecting contributions at the front desk.

After donation, volunteers carefully sort, clean, and repackage seeds into individual envelopes sized for the seed library drawers. Community members interested in helping with this process will have three opportunities to volunteer this winter. These “sorting parties” offer a fun and hands-on way to meet and learn from the dedicated seed stewards, the volunteer team that keeps this community cycle growing year after year:

• Saturday, November 22.  2:00 – 4:00, Mesa Public Library
• Saturday, January 3. 2:00 – 4:00, Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC)
• Saturday, February 7. 2:00 – 4:00, White Rock Branch Library

For more information about the seed library or upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit www.losalamoslibrary.org or contact Sr. Librarian Eva Jacobson at 505-663-1812.