Ex(s)eedingly grateful

Where do we get our seeds? Each year we reach out to a number of outstanding seed companies and seed sharing organizations to extend our mission to share seeds, gardening, and seed saving. These companies and programs generously gave over 1,300 packets of quality organic seeds to us to share in 2023. Among them are signers of the Safe Seed Pledge, and others who operate under the Open Source Seed Initiative. This means these companies do not knowingly buy, sell, or trade genetically-engineered seeds and ensure that the genetics within their seeds remain available to others. By partnering with these companies, we ensure that we do not knowingly share genetically modified or chemically treated seeds. We appreciate their commitment to quality and community to keep the foundations of regenerative agriculture in place for all to benefit. Tap the logos below to learn more about our commercial and organizational partners.

In 2023, we officially launched our Farmer Partner Program to invite skilled farmers to grow a culturally significant seed using organic, open-pollinated seed production methods to increase our inventory of seeds adapted to Napa County. Before launching this program, many skilled seed savers took the initiative, time, and effort to save and donate their seeds to us. Many thanks to Danielle LoRusso, Dianne Velasco, Peter Jacobsen, Jennifer Lang, Vivian Wehner, Teresa Kao, and many others who regularly donate and exchange locally adapted, open-pollinated, and organically grown seeds to contribute to our mission.

About our seeds

Skilled farmers, gardeners, seed companies, and seed-saving programs grow and donate seed that empowers our mission. We select for and grow organic, open-pollinated seeds. We make it a priority to grow culturally significant seeds. We do not share genetically modified or chemically treated seeds.

We are fortunate that the California Seed Law (AB 1810, 2016) legally allows seed exchanges through seed libraries. Seed libraries like ours are not subject to germination testing, labeling, or other costly and prohibitive requirements that commercial seed companies must comply with to sell seed. That said, we cannot require that seeds we share be returned to us.

However, we provide here and on our social media tools and education for you to become inspired to grow locally adapted, open-pollinated and organically grown seeds to the libraries as often as you can. 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.