Biodiversity and the Library:
Seed Lending
There has been a trend in commercial agriculture to focus on
a small number of plant varieties, and to only grow the varieties that are seen
as the most commercially successful, to the detriment of others. The result has been that 75% of the global
food biodiversity has become extinct within the last 100 years, and that 90% of
the remaining biodiversity is not in use commercially. Added to this is the fact that the focus of
the largest seed producers is toward discouraging the saving of seeds, and is
instead focused on the repurchase of the same seeds year after year. This reduction in diversity can be harmful in
many ways. Fewer varieties mean that in
the case of the advent of adverse conditions, whether biological or climate
induced, the negative impact on the food supply is felt much greater than if
there were more food crops to absorb the impact.
In an effort to preserve and expand the biodiversity
currently present in southwest Michigan, the South Haven Memorial Library will
be hosting a seed lending library beginning April 24. The seed library will contain a collection of
non-GMO, organic, heirloom seeds that will be available for “checkout” by the
public. There will be a three seed
packet limit. The goal will not be to
fully stock individual gardens, but instead to introduce home gardeners to a
wider variety of produce. Later in the
year, the library will be hosting a series of programs covering harvesting seeds
from the mature plants. The request will
be that a portion of those seeds harvested will be brought back to the library
and placed back in the collection for future use, and that the rest will be
replanted and used again the following year by the gardener.
As this collection grows and evolves, we will be building
the biodiversity of the region, as well as a collection of seeds adapted to the
region. The core of this collection has
been generously donated by: Baker Creek
Heirloom Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, and High Mowing Seeds. Additional donations of non-GMO, organic,
heirloom seeds will be thankfully appreciated.
