From Denver Public Library

“As storytelling requires listening and advocacy requires relationships, the stories of seed cannot be understood without personal connection” (Roise, Melina Ann, 2021).

It’s that time of year again, Spring has sprung and the DPL Seed libraries are back with a few adjustments! Each participating location has a small seed browsing collection for customers to take and return (while supplies last).

Seed libraries can be found at the following Denver Public Library locations:

• Central Library – 10 W. Fourteenth Ave. Pkwy. 80204, 720-865-1111 (limited hours due to construction)
• Eugene Field Branch Library – 810 S. University Blvd. 80209, 720-865-0240
• Ford-Warren Branch Library – 2825 High St. 80205, 720-865-0920
• Park Hill Branch Library – 4705 Montview Blvd. 80207, 720-865-0250
• Ross-Broadway Branch Library – 33 E. Bayaud Avenue 80209, 720-865-0135
• Smiley Branch Library – 4501 W. 46th Avenue 80212, 720-865-0260

When the time comes, please consider letting some of your plants go to seed and donating them back to us – saving seeds will allow them to adapt over time to our microclimate here in Denver, helping us grow a resilient localized food system! Please return all seed varieties with a completed Seed Return Form available at all DPL Seed Library locations.

It is estimated that while Indigenous peoples make up less than 5% of the world’s population, they protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity. We would like to extend our gratitude to the original stewards of this land (in particular the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe) and the many other nations native to North America (also known as Turtle Island) for their vital contributions made to the cultivation of biodiversity and plant life as we know it today.

A huge and hearty thank you to all the local growers who continue to make the seed libraries possible. The collection’s seeds were generously donated by Front Range Wild Ones, High Ground Gardens, High Desert Seed, MASA Seed Foundation, Snake River Seed Cooperative, Denver Urban Gardens, Lake Valley Seed, Applewood Seed, and members of the community.

Get your hands dirty with resources on seed starting, soil health, and more! Check out CSU Master Gardener Extension and our Gardening and Horticulture database which contains magazines and journals on gardening, landscaping and horticulture, available with a DPL library card.

Comments? Questions? Want to say hello? Email info@denverlibrary.org. We’d love to join you on your seed journey: post your garden progress on social media with the hashtag #growwithDPL—we can’t wait to see what you grow!

Happy growing 🙂