Starting a Neighbourhood Seed Library to Build Community and Reduce Waste
Kurstin loves plants, and she loves her neighbourhood. She wanted to give back to the community and came up with the idea of starting a neighbourhood seed library. Kurstin studies and works in horticulture. She thought a seed library would encourage neighbours to grow their own seeds. They could then use the library to share their seeds and plants with neighbours. This will help reduce the plastic waste created by buying plants commercially and save everyone money.
The Beehive Seed Library is ready for saving seeds and sharing plants.
Many people started gardening during the pandemic and realized that gardening provided more than just food. They connected with the environment as they spent time outdoors and felt improvements in their mental health. Kurstin wanted to support this gardening revival, so she applied for a small neighbourhood grant to buy materials and build the library.
Her vision is to create a loop starting with sharing seeds, planting seeds, and harvesting the plants with some plants left to go to seed for the following year. Neighbours enthusiastically supported the Beehive Seed Library by sharing extra plants and pots. Kurstin says,“ I have met so many people I may not have otherwise by visiting and chatting about plants and our neighbourhood.”
Funding from the Nanaimo Foundation Neighbourhood Small Grants.
Thank you Kurstin Decker for sharing your story.
We are thrilled that Vince & Marianne are benefitted from all of these upgrades, especially their heat pump! Thank you for sharing this article. I am going to pass it along others in similar circumstances to help them see that they too can improve the comfort level of their own homes and do it in a more affordable way.