Seed library annexes and locations

Bird Nest
475 Eastern Avenue
Angwin, CA 94508

Downtown Napa
500 First Street
Napa, CA 94558

St. Helena Public Library
1492 Library Lane
St. Helena, CA 94574

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
1917 Third Street
Napa, CA 94559

North Napa
4417 Tanglewood Way
Napa, CA 94558

Community seed exchanges

We occasionally host community seed exchanges in person at local events. View our Events page for scheduled dates. Bring mature, dry, and well-labeled organic seeds to exchange. Watch this video to learn how!

About our seeds

Our mission is to grow, save and share locally adapted, organic seeds among people living in Napa County. We prioritize for open-pollinated and culturally significant seeds. We do not share genetically modified or chemically treated seeds. If you have questions, please contact us.

How do I use the libraries?

  • 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.

  • 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 2 years after harvest.

  • Seed inventories and selections will vary by location. Keep our supplies abundant and return or donate organically grown seeds, grown locally or commercially. We accept seed donations in commercial packets, coin envelopes, glass jars, or heavyweight paper bags. No plastic, please. We ask that seed donors follow instructions in this video before donating seed.

Which kinds of seeds
do you have?

  • 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!

  • From February through April you’ll find radish, lettuce, carrot, beets, pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, arugula, cilantro, chives, flowers and ornamentals for pollinators.

  • 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. 

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • Our seeds come from commercial and locally grown seed sources. All seeds must be labeled with the seed type, year of collection or packed for date, and the name of the seed saver or company that donated them. We prioritize for open-pollinated and heritage seeds.

  • 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 7 years past its harvest date.

  • 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 and not hybrid.

Do you accept
hybrid seeds?

  • 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.

  • Locally adapted seeds regenerate plant genetic material to produce healthier seed stock.

  • 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.

  • But hybrid seeds aren’t 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.

Seed our future

Bird Nest
475 Eastern Avenue
Angwin, CA 94508

Downtown Napa
500 First Street
Napa, CA 94559

St. Helena Public Library
1492 Library Lane
St. Helena, CA 94574

North Napa
4417 Tanglewood Way
Napa, CA 94558

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
1917 Third Street
Napa, CA 94559

St. Helena Farmers Market
360 Crane Avenue
St. Helena, CA 94574