Linda Falkenstein
Anyone can “check out” packets of seeds, and yes, they have barcodes — just like a book. The program not only encourages people to experiment with growing their own food, it underlines the importance of saving seeds. As people save seeds from plants that have grown successfully, the library becomes more specialized with varieties that do well in our area.
There’s no penalty if your crop fails and you can’t save any seeds to return next fall, but the plants chosen for the program — basil, kale, tomatoes, beets, chives and lettuce, among them — are generally simple to grow with seeds that are easy to dry and save.
Seeds are available at the Dane County Bookmobile; Fitchburg, Middleton, Oregon and McFarland public libraries; and Lakeview and South Madison branches.
