Visit your local library and see if they have a seed bank. Two of my favorite libraries have recently started seed banks. Using an antique seed box, Old Forge library started collecting donations of seeds from the local community. Another library seed bank I visited was stored in an old card catalog–how great is this?

The seeds are placed in varying “containers”–old envelopes, folded paper, little wax bags, plastic bags, and tiny jars–labelled with seed name, donor location and sometimes, little quips about how to care for them or their history–or as the one in the photo says, “Please encourage growers to save and share and seeds.”

One of my favorite TED Talks is by Cary Fowler–originator of the Global Seed Vault: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food. I was blown away by the thought that groups of people are thinking outside themselves for the future of the human race. Working to ensure we have biodiversity, seeds, and the ability to grow crops in case of a global catastrophe. Thank you!