Seed Library

The Exeter Seed Library is housed at the library and its mission is to promote growing and saving seeds, especially native and heirloom seeds. The seed library contains both commercial and home grown seeds. It is self-served, free to everyone, and available anytime that the library is open.

Mission

We seek to increase our community’s health and well-being through the appreciation, cultivation, and use of locally adapted and locally indigenous plants. In pursuit of our mission, we strive to: (1) promote the time-honored and resilient practice of seed saving; (2) facilitate the free sharing of seeds supplied by and for Exeter area residents; and (3) provide information and education about plants and their uses and methods of cultivation. We celebrate human knowledge and invite and welcome the participation of all voices in the seed library’s development.

How To Take Seeds

• Everyone is entitled to take seeds. There is no cost and you are not required to donate or return seeds.
   
• Please take seeds to the desk for checkout, so we can keep track of inventory.
   
• Please take no more than what you can sow or germinate, at most 5 seed packets at a time, and no more than 15 seed packets in a calendar year.
   
• Returning seeds is not required, and may not be possible for certain plants. If you return or donate seeds, please follow our Seed Saving Guidelines.

Commercial Seeds

We welcome donations of commercial seed packets, as long as the seeds are still viable. Viability time varies greatly among seeds, but we will generally accept commercial seeds that are less than two years old.