Things are setting ‘seedy’ inside the St. Catharines university library

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Published April 18, 2022 at 12:49 pm

Master of Sustainability candidate Alexandra Cotrufo helped to create Brock University's seed library launching April 19. (Photo: Brock University)

Things are getting seedier in the Brock University Library starting tomorrow (April 19).

Like many other libraries in Niagara Region, the James A. Gibson Library on the St. Catharines campus will open the Brock University Seed Library to the community.

The brainchild of Master of Sustainability candidates Alexandra Cotrufo and Madison Lepp, the pair did a little researching and found out about the WWF-Canada’s Go Wild School Grants, which funds projects that are focused on protecting or restoring nature in schools and on campuses.

So they decided to apply in hopes of bringing their vision for a community seed library to life. Turned out they were very successful with their application.

While most recipients receive grant amounts of $1,000, Cotrufo and Lepp were picked to receive $2,500 to plan, build and execute their project.

So as of tomorrow, students can borrow seeds to plant in the spring and summer.

Exactly how do students “borrow” seeds that they’re planting in the ground? Turns out the program operates very much like a library. Seed borrowers are asked to later return a new batch of seeds from their gardens. With that, the program is continually perpetuating.

Almost as excited about the seed program as the two students is the library itself.

“It’s a natural fit with the borrowing services we (the library) already support,” said Andrew Colgoni, Associate University Librarian, Student Success.

“Seed libraries have been growing in popularity, particularly among public libraries, including many in the Niagara region. We’re pleased to be able to make it easy for the campus community to access a rich catalogue of seeds through our ‘Ask Us’ desk in James A. Gibson Library.”

Seed libraries are considered an effective mechanism for collecting and distributing a variety of rare, endangered, native and/or culturally important seeds, aiming to protect genetic diversity in the food system and promote public access to seeds.

To learn more about the seed library and how to participate, please check HERE

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