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PRIEST RIVER — There are some new additions to the West Bonner County Library District catalogue: seeds.
Run out of the Priest River and Blanchard libraries by a group loosely known as the West Bonner Seed Savers, The Seed Library offers and accepts seeds for patrons to grow in their own gardens. Patrons can take any packet of seeds for free, even if they do not own a library card.
So far this year, the West Bonner Seed Savers have packed 600 packets of seeds, including calendula, cilantro, beans, columbine, lettuce, eggplant, collard greens and other herbs and vegetables. Some varieties are named: Pink Petticoat columbine, Thai Green Frog Fingers eggplant, Sexy Mama collard greens and Tongue of Fire and Tiger’s Eye beans.
Seed packets are stored at each library in out-of-use card catalogues. Whether heirloom or open-pollinated, all seeds are required to be non-hybrid, ensuring they breed true and in acclimation with local gardens.
“This year is the first year that we've really started seeing some seeds come back,” said Katie Crill, former library director and Seed Library founder. “And the variety is just fun.”
Crill founded The Seed Library in 2014 based on a Rural Life article about someone who had done the same — save seeds and store them in a card catalogue. She wanted patrons to learn to grow their own seeds and, ideally, donate some of those seeds back to The Seed Library.
After she retired as library director, Crill received in 2022 a Spirit of Priest River award and the opportunity to donate $1,000 to her favorite charity. She said she, of course, chose the West Bonner County Library District.
Besides ordering $100-worth of seeds, Crill donated many of her own seeds to The Seed Library. As of today, she has been a gardener for five decades, saving seeds for three.
“That was our seed money,” Crill said. “Pun intended.”
When taking seed packets, the West Bonner Seed Savers ask patrons to log it in the Seed Library checkout form.
Last year, patrons took 600 packets of seeds from The Seed Library, Crill said. The Seed Library has grown even further since then, with 80 patrons between the West Bonner Seed Savers’ Facebook following and mailing list. (The Priest River Community Garden is among them.)
The West Bonner Seed Savers regularly receive donations from not just patrons, but other seed organizations and companies. A dozen attend their meetings, held only a couple times a year whenever The Seed Library needs a restock.
“We never know what we're gonna get,” Crill said.
Patrons are encouraged, though not required, to donate back to The Seed Library; the West Bonner Seed Savers even accept seeds that failed in one garden, as Crill said they can be fixed and tried in another.
Most bean, flower and herb seeds can be saved after the plant flowers, goes to seed and dries, but other plants may involve alternative seed saving processes, Crill said. Plants like squash may end up crossing with each other. As such, the West Bonner Seed Savers offer patrons seed saving resources such as guides, posters and online advice.
Crill sees a couple reasons for The Seed Library’s recent growth. High-quality seeds now start at about $5 per packet at some retailers, unaffordable for many in the area. Moreover, demand is increasing for healthy, locally produced food. The Seed Library, Crill said, addresses that.
“We’re starting to see a lot of participation,” Crill said. “So, I'm excited to see what this fall brings us.”
The Priest River Library is at 118 Main St., the Blanchard Library at 412 Railroad Ave.
