Hudson Valley Seed Library

They offer heirloom and open-pollinated seeds for vegetable, flower, and herb varieties. Many of these seeds they produce on their own small farm; the rest they source from other local farmers, farmers in other regions, and from trustworthy wholesale seed houses that are not owned by or affiliated with multi-national biotech companies. They have signed the Safe Seed Pledge, and they adhere to Vandana Shiva's Declaration of Seed Freedom. As of May 2013, they are both a Certified Organic farm and a Certified Organic Handler (both by NOFA-NY LLC).

How They Started

Ken Greene started the Seed Library in 2004 while working as a Librarian at the Gardiner Public Library in Gardiner, New York. Having developed a strong interest in preserving heirloom seed varieties, he decided to add them to the library catalog so that patrons could "check them out," grow them in their home gardens, and then "return" saved seed at the end of the season. The program was a small but successful endeavor--one of the first of its kind in the country. After four years of running the program at the library, Ken and his partner Doug decided to turn the library into a mission-driven, homestead-based small business--which it still is today. 

For more about them and their seeds make sure to check out their site... you'll find photos and artwork that stoke your horticultural imagination--along with tips to make your garden dreams a reality.