CAMPUS LIFE

Plant a seed, foster growth with WCC’s seed library

The seed library allows students, staff and communities around WCC to learn how to grow and start their own garden while supporting the fight against climate change. The seed library doesn’t require a harvest of seeds from the vegetable or fruit you grow, but a donation of those seeds is always welcomed. Courtney Prielipp | Washtenaw Voice

Sasha Hatinger

Staff Writer

The Seed Library at WCC welcomes and encourages all students, faculty and community members to check out available seeds to grow their garden and to help the fight against climate change.

2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of WCC’s Seed Library, which began in 2015 from the Food and Agriculture subgroup of the Sustainability Council. The Seed Library is important because students, staff and the community can “learn to save seeds,” said Sandy McCarthy, faculty librarian at WCC. It also “promotes [a] plant-based diet,” McCarthy said.

All of these benefits “help fight climate change,” McCarthy added.

In what ways?

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) highlights some ways in which the answer is within each gardener. By growing native plants in your gardens and removing invasive species, humankind can help reduce the risk of expansion of invasive plants. Doing so helps pollinator species as well as provides a source of familiar food to local wildlife.

Another suggestion from the National Wildlife Federation is to reduce water consumption. Some ways to reduce water consumption in your garden, according to NWF, also include adjusting your water schedule and mulching.

There are other local seed libraries, including the Ypsilanti Public Library, the Ann Arbor Public Library and the University of Michigan Shapiro Library.

The seed of the radish French breakfast is located in the easy beets, leeks and radishes drawer. Besides beets, leeks and radishes, the seed library offers herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Courtney Prielipp | Washtenaw Voice

“Our seeds are organic, non-GMO open-pollinated seeds,” McCarthy said.

In having organic, non-GMO and open pollinated seeds, WCC’s Seed Library is promoting healthier lifestyles and making an impact for the bettering of the environment, McCarthy said.

There are different levels of seeds available for students, staff and community members to check-out or borrow. Whether the level is “easy,” “intermediate” or “advanced” – fruits, veggies and flowers are available.

WCC’s Seed Library purchases heirloom seeds each year, which are available to check-out or borrow. The process of checking-out or borrowing seeds is simple and is listed on WCC’s Seed Library webpage. No ID required and without a specific due date, students, staff and community members can borrow seed packets from WCC’s Seed Library, with the recommendation of only borrowing as much as you can grow.

As far as the return process, it is not required. However, harvesting seeds from the produce that you’ve grown is an option available to you. Simply return the harvested seeds in the original envelope, or label a new envelope with appropriate seed labels. There is a donation form that should be completed and returned as well.

For further information, check out WCC’s Seed Library’s website at: https://libguides.wccnet.edu/seedlibrary.