Seed Library blossoms in Green Bay, cultivating sustainability and growth

GREEN BAY – New Leaf Foods, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainable food systems.

In 2022, New Leaf collaborated with the Brown County Library and the UW–Madison Extension Brown County to create the Brown County Seed Library, with each entity bringing something to the table: the Library providing a public home for the seeds, New Leaf bringing community connections and the Extension horticultural giving knowledge and support.

Melissa Wass, volunteer and board member for New Leaf Foods and Master Gardeners, said, “The idea was simple but powerful — to make free, regionally appropriate seeds available to everyone and to encourage seed saving to protect our local food supply.”

Launching in March of 2023, the program had a collection of a few seeds and a small team of volunteers.

Since the Seed Library has begun working in the community, it has engaged with the community through annual seed swaps, seedling exchanges, hands on workshops and community events.

An important part of the Seed Library’s work is education.

They work with the Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association (NEWMGA) to provide Seed Steward training. “Helping community members learn how to save seeds true to type,” Wass says.

The library also has a monthly newsletter, which highlights local gardening events and learning opportunities.

The newsletter, which also features all of the Seed Library’s opportunities, is available at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/PHahAGl/bcsl.

The Library also received a grant from the Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association (WIMGA) to purchase high-quality sifting screens with various size openings to improve sifting seeds of different sizes.

Among the events the Seed Library hosts, a Seed Cleaning Workshop was hosted on Nov. 8 that allowed volunteers to use the new equipment and see how the different sizes worked with different seeds.

Looking to 2026 the Library has many events planned.

One is seed-packing, which Wass described as, “wonderful hands-on activities for all ages.” Others include “Growing and Using Herbs Year-Round;” the Seed Library Launch Party on Saturday, March 7, featuring educational stations for all ages, speakers and a seed swap; a Winter Sowing Workshop in January of next year at the Weyers-Hilliard branch of the library, and the Seed Library’s first-ever “Badger Talk” with Patrick Leisch (the Wisconsin Bug Guy) on beneficial backyard bugs.

When discussing the consideration of which seeds to foster, Wass says, “The Seed Library curates its collection based on regional suitability, community interest and educational value.” She said they’re offering 65 different types of seeds and new varieties will be introduced at the Seed Library Launch Party.

The seeds come to be in the library’s collection through various means, such as purchases, donations and locally grown contributions from community gardeners.

They’re reviewed, labeled and either repackaged, offered in the ‘grab bin’ if already packaged or offered in the Bulk Seed Swap every March.

Seeds from the curated collection are stocked on the second floor of the Brown County Central Library and are open whenever the Library is — and anyone can take what they need with no library card or registration required.

The collection is restocked regularly throughout the growing season.

Organizations that have since partnered with the Seed Library through education, donations and volunteers include UW-Green Bay, the Brown County Community Gardens Program, the Green Bay Botanical Garden and the Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association.

On how community members can help the Seed Library, Wass had many recommendations. These include becoming a Certified Seed Steward through the Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardeners program, donating either homegrown or purchased seeds, accepted at the Brown County Stem Innovation Center at the UW- Green Bay campus and the library, volunteering at seed-packing events and making monetary donations through New Lead Foods.

Wass said, “One important thing to know is that the Seed Library is truly for everyone — no membership, fees, or prior gardening experience is required… Every seed shared or returned carries a story, and together, those stories keep the Brown County Seed Library thriving.”