Indianapolis Public Library's Seed Service offers free vegetable and flower seeds for at-home gardens

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Public Library’s Seed Service has returned for the 2023 spring and summer season.

“The seed library is a library within a library,” Glory Perez, with IndyPL said.

The Seed Library Service allows Hoosiers to take home free vegetable, flower and herb seeds to plant in at-home gardens. The library limits 25 seed packets per household.

Jonathon Christians

The Seed Library will offer over 40 different seeds including:

• Marigold
• Milkweed
• Sunflower
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Oregano
• Turnip
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Green beans
• Peppers
• Pumpkins
• Zucchini squash
• Tomatoes
• And more

Seeds will be offered at 19 public library branches.
Perez said some of the library branches offering the seeds are in food deserts and having these seeds in a big deal for the neighborhood.

“When you're in the food desert, access to fresh produce is very limited and it's very far for people to go so having this is like a great asset and providing like a start to growing your own food, encouraging food sovereignty. We have a food pantry but there is no fresh produce so this is a great added asset," Perez said.

In addition to the Seed Library, some branches will also offer gardening classes. The classes will cover gardening basics, how to plant seeds indoors and when it’s safe to plant the seeds.

For more information on which branches are participating and what seeds will be available, click here.