‘The Little Seed Library’ Offers Fruit and Veggie Seeds for All – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
At the start of the pandemic in 2020, who can forget about empty shelves in grocery stores?
A north Texas horticulturist set out to create a nonprofit to ensure everyone has access to fresh fruits and vegetables year round by growing them herself.
Collin County’s gardener Jennifer Rauschmayer is passionate about organic, healthy nutrition.
She grows much of her family’s food in her backyard.
When the pandemic broke out, an idea blossomed.
“Everything was gone in the supermarket,” she recalls. “The only things left were unhealthy and things my family wouldn’t want to eat. We were lucky because we grow our own food and thought: why shouldn’t everyone have this ability? “
The small seed library was born.
Rauschmayer enlisted the help of her husband and daughter to build and paint tiny wooden houses that were placed on trees, inspired by the popular book-swapping movement in neighborhoods across the country.
“We put dragonflies there,” she said. “My mother was a gardener and she remembers that too.”
Only these “libraries” are stocked with seasonal fruit, vegetable and pollinator seeds that everyone can take away.
The first was placed in their district of Plano. The goal is to build and install Little Seed Libraries in more cities and neighborhoods. Anyone interested in requesting a Little Seed Library is encouraged to contact the organization.
Library visitors are advised to take one seed package with them for each variety and to provide your contact details so that Rauschmayer can answer all gardening questions.
“Right now is the best time to plant lettuce, radishes and beets,” says Rauschmayer. “In summer we have a lot of seeds for pumpkins.”
The Little Seed Library then became a not-for-profit organization, and local seed companies Fedco and Baker Creek Heirloom donated seeds.
The organization has delivered 18 Little Seed Libraries in 10 states, including Arizona, Washington, and Oregon.
Rauschmayer now hopes to work with a local food chamber to distribute seeds and teach people how to grow their own food at home.
Another goal is to expand to food deserts, areas where there is a shortage of fresh produce.
“Our goal is simply to get people excited about growing their own food and having access to growing their food,” she said. “It’s huge. It’s really very exciting. I can’t wait for more people to get involved.”
The Little Seed Library is looking for volunteers with woodworking skills to help build more homes.
The group is happy about donations of money and sperm.
For further information, click here.
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