Seed Library
Want to try growing from seed and share the results with others? Suffolk Master Gardeners are teaming up with Suffolk Public Library to make it easier!
The Suffolk Master Gardener Seed Library provides FREE small packets of free vegetable, herb, annual flower, and native plant seeds, allowing home gardeners to try a new type of vegetable, to add flowers to attract pollinators, and to grow plants native to our area.
How It Works
The Seed Library is open to everyone. Participants can “borrow” up to three packets of seed weekly FREE by visiting the Seed Library at North Suffolk Library 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Rd, Suffolk, VA 23435. If successful, we hope to expand to a second location when the new library opens.
How it Supports our Community
The primary focus of this program is to support our mission of empowering and supporting families in growing their own food to increase their food security, improve their nutrition, and build a more sustainable future. We plan demonstrations that provide community education on how to save, sow, and grow seeds, as well as to organize community seed swaps to increase access to seed.
Portions of the City of Suffolk are designated as food deserts by the US Department of Agriculture, where residents cannot access affordable and nutritious food. These food deserts lead to food insecurity, with many residents not knowing from where their next meal will come. VCE Suffolk Master Gardeners are also partnering with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Western Tidewater Branch in Franklin, to provide related food-gardening programming talks.
You can help us grow!
This program will flourish with community support. We can use unopened seed packets of any vegetables, herbs, or annual flowers, #1 coin envelopes, 30-page self-adhesive labels, or monetary donations online or by check. Please note “seed library” on your donation and send us an email at SuffolkMG@gmail.com to let our seed library committee know!
You can also become a Master Gardener and volunteer for this project. We get together every month or two to package up seeds, lead community talks, and replenish the seed library.
Resources
If you can’t make one of our community talks, here are a few publications that can help you:
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant. NOTE: As of March 1, 2025, the map has not been updated to reflect 2023 revisions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones, which moves virtually all of Suffolk into zone 8a:
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Erin Wishall, VCE City of Suffolk at 757-514-4331/TDD 800-828-1120 during business hours of 8:30 am. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.