The free, volunteer-run Public Seed Library opened at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library downtown in March 2023. A collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis Public Library, the Public Seed Library is available to everyone who visits the Corvallis Public Library, for individual and organizations' non-commercial use, regardless of whether they have a library card. The program is intended to support both new and experienced home gardeners.

This is a seed-sharing library to share sustenance: Give what you can, and receive free seeds and garden knowledge on how to plan a garden, grow vegetables, and companion herbs and flowers for pollinators and other beneficial insects. The OSU Extension Service provides educational resources. Benton County Master Gardeners and other local area experts offer vegetable gardening lectures, workshops, and pop-up Vegetable Garden Plant Clinic help desks at the Corvallis Public Library.

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The Public Seed Library is stocked exclusively with donated vegetable, herb, and flower commercial seed packets. Please consider donating new or open and partially used commercial seed packets packed for the current or prior calendar year: Crop, seed age and storage method are important viability factors to consider for growing success. Donations are accepted at the Corvallis Public Library downtown at 645 NW Monroe Ave inside at the Librarian's Circulation Desk.

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The Benton County Master Gardeners and Corvallis Sustainability Coalition already partner with others to provide the free Corvallis Garden Resource Guide and gardening educational outreach through the Neighborhood Planters Kiosks project. Corvallis has an active gardening community, and family-owned retail nurseries, local seed companies, and co-ops that support local school gardens, community gardens and natural area conservation groups. There’s a lot of programming support for people who are looking to start gardening or grow more of their own food. The Public Seed Library will benefit all: current gardeners who will have free access to a broader variety of seeds, new gardeners, and the environment too.

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Educational Program Dates & Vegetable Garden Resource Links

•  Vegetable Garden Educational Lectures- Dates & Topics  

• Vegetable Garden Educational Lecture Slides & Virtual Handouts (after each lecture)

• Pop-Up Vegetable Garden Plant Clinic Help Desk- Dates

• Food Hero "Grow This!" program with free seeds (time limited signup starts in February)

• Food Hero - Seed Packet Info by crop and Garden Tip Sheets by crop

• NOAA Last & First Frost Dates 20 Year Actual and Average

• Soil Temperatures for Seed Germination and Days to Emerge at Various Temperatures

• Vegetable Garden Monthly Planting Calendars: here and here

• Summer Planting for Fall & Winter Harvesting: here and here

• Hardening Off Seedlings

• "Growing Your Own" - OSU Extension Service Comprehensive Growing Guide

• Companion Planting for pollinators and beneficial pests: here

• Bee Resources to Identify and Support Bee Pollinators: here and here.

• Open Pollinated Seed Saving: here and here

• Seed Storage Guide & Average Storage Life

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