Our Mission
We grow, save, and share locally adapted, organic seeds to benefit the people of Napa County.
About
The Napa County Seed Library is a free public resource for seed saving and sharing. Our mission is to grow, save, and share locally adapted, organic seeds to benefit the people of Napa County.
Our vision is to practice and teach seed saving skills to increase the amount and diversity of organically grown seeds adapted to our climate. Pursuing this vision we believe will bring resilience, well-being, and strong local food and natural habitat to Napa County.
We value seeds as a free, sustainable, and renewable resource. We aim to teach ethical seed saving to revive and remember important traditions that honor culture, foodways, and place.
In 2022, we worked closely with Robin Greenfield who supported our seed-saving initiative and shared several of his own approaches to ensuring food security. We created a series of collaborative projects and videos to demonstrate why we’re so passionate about seeds and how seeds can be free!
Locations & Events
Our seed library operates as a network of little free seed libraries. We’ve established five seed library annexes throughout Napa County. These seed libraries operate as a network of places where you can borrow, grow, save, and return organic seeds!
To join our seed circle, locate the seed library annex near you, borrow some seeds, then visit our Events page to find out where you can connect with us in person!
We collaborate with other local nonprofits, clubs, business, and NGOs and host local events like our own Tomatoganza! and Annual Seed Swap. This year, you’ll find us at events that focus on seeds, agriculture, and the natural environment like the Organic Seed Alliance’s California Organic Seed Summit, and the Napa Farm Bureau’s 19th Annual Agriculture (Ag) Day.
Lauren Muscatine speaks at the first Tomatoganza! event. Video by Howard K. Yune, City Editor, Napa Valley Register.
Donate
Help us grow more locally adapted seeds, educate more people about seed saving, get more hands in the dirt, and support more people, pollinators, and microhabitats across Napa County.
Cash and seed donations support your Napa County Seed Library.
Because of your generosity and support during CanDo's Give!Guide campaign, we gained over $2,000 to support our mission to save and share seeds this year!
You can contribute to us year-round. Join our mission!
The Napa County Seed Library is a 501(c)(3) private foundation. We thrive on your support. All cash and non-cash donations support our cause. Your contributions are tax deductible. Our FEIN is #85-0755714.About our seeds
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions we get about our seeds and seed libraries. If you have further questions, please let us know.
How do I use the libraries?
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Each seed library annex serves a unique and hyperlocal community. All are designed for you to borrow and donate seeds. Watch this video to see how easy it is to borrow and return seeds to the library annexes.
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We only offer organically grown seeds that are mature, dry, clean, and freshly packed or harvested. If seeds donated are 4 years old or older, they may not germinate to grow into mature plants. Although seed can be viable for 5+ years in optimal storage conditions, seed is best when grown within two years after harvest.
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Seed inventories and selections will vary by location. Keep our supplies abundant and return or donate organically grown seeds, grown return or donate locally or commercially. We accept seed donations in commercial packets, coin envelopes, glass jars, or heavyweight paper bags. No plastic, please.
Which kinds of seeds
do you have?
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We exchange vegetable, herb, flower, medicinal, and ornamental seeds. At times we offer tree seeds. We stock seeds according to seasonal planting cycles. Visit the libraries to find what’s ready to plant!
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From February through April you’ll find radish, lettuce, carrot, beets, pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, arugula, cilantro, chives, flowers and ornamentals for pollinators.
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From May through August you’ll find summer squashes (zucchini, patty pan), winter squash (acorn, butternut), eggplant, okra, tomatoes, corn, beans, basil, tomatillos, melons, drought-tolerant flowers, and ornamentals.
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From September through January you’ll find beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, celery, pak choi, wildflowers, and cover crop.
How do you retain
seed quality?
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Seed intake, handling, labeling, and storage are all essential to preserve the viability of our seed inventories. We ask that seed donors follow instructions in this video before donating seed. We store seeds in cool and dark spaces on indoor shelving and in chest freezers and refrigerators as temperatures fluctuate during the year. We strive to maintain temperature and humidity values (when added together) under 100.
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We ask that seed donors follow instructions in this video before donating seed. We store seeds in cool and dark spaces on indoor shelving and in chest freezers and refrigerators as temperatures fluctuate during the year. We strive to maintain temperature and humidity values (when added together) under 100.
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Seed libraries are exempt from germination testing because they freely serve a common good. This testing is costly, requiring time and resources we do not have. We trust the labeling on seed from the commercial market and handle and store all seed to preserve highest quality. We do not share seed older than 4 years past its harvest / packed for date.
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Seeds are alive and people using the seed libraries have varying degrees of seed saving skills. Occasionally we test for good seed germination, when in doubt, but generally we trust that those who share seeds with us are giving us organic seeds that are vigorous. We ask that seed donors follow instructions in this video before donating seed.
Do you accept
hybrid seeds?
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These types of seeds are adapted to a region pollinated by insects, birds, wind, humans, or other natural methods. As long as pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will grow, look, taste, and reproduce the same way the seed its parent plants were saved from.
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Locally adapted seeds regenerate plant genetic material to produce healthier seed stock.
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Heritage or heirloom seeds are open pollinated seeds with an interesting legacy. Because we want our seed libraries to carry unique varieties that reflect the culture and people of Napa County, we prioritize for heirloom seeds to circulate through the libraries.
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But hybrid seeds aren’t good for seed saving. This is simply because their method of reproduction comes from two different species or varieties that are crossed using human intervention, usually in a lab or under controlled conditions.
