Seed library sprouts at Colfax WCL branch

-photo Ashley Hope

The seed library debuted in Colfax last week. Patrons can borrow seeds from the library and participate in seed sharing through the seed library at the Colfax branch of the Whitman County Library.

The Colfax branch of the Whitman County Library has some new items in its inventory for patrons: seeds. The seed library officially debuted Wednesday, July 27.

“Seed libraries are something that are trending all over the nation as people try to take back their food,” said Stephanie Hust, a senior human development major at Washington State University and summer intern at the Council on Aging in Colfax. “People want to reconnect with their food.”

Hust had the idea to start the seed library, and she worked with Ashley Hope at WSU's Center for Civic Engagement to make the idea a reality.

The seed library allows patrons to “check out” seeds from the Colfax library.

“It's about providing a community source and encouraging a culture of sharing,” said Hust.

The culture of sharing would be created through seed sharing, a practice by which the seed library users can check out seeds, grow their own plants and then return some or all of the seeds generated from the plant.

“I hope that this becomes a staple in the library and people use it, and that when they borrow they bring it back,” said Hope. “I really hope that happens.”

Hust said she hopes for this resource to be able to help people focus on healthy decisions.

“Focusing on seeds was really important,” she said. “Seeds are kind of the foundation of life, and we are intertwined with the land and our health is affected by the land,” she said. “And the price of healthy food is really expensive. It aids that, too.”

Hope said she wants to see this go beyond Hust's internship.

“We want to make it sustainable,” she said. “Colfax is a big city in eastern Washington, and we want to expand out to outlying cities so they can live a little more food secure.”

She said the plan right now is to focus on the launch in Colfax and then expand from there.

Backyard Harvest of Spokane and Guy and Beverly Spencer of Runner Bean Ranch were at the kickoff event last week, said Hust.

“They're people who care about access to food in our communities,” she said.

Backyard Harvest will continue to be involved through educational pieces and workshops, Hust added.

“Fresh produce, that's my goal,” said Hope. “I hope it leads to healthier and sustainable communities.”