Walk into the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah and you’ll be greeted by stacks of books, rows of study spaces, a bit of construction noise, and a little seed library. The Seed Library at the Eccles Health Sciences Library, located near the front desk, has been restocked for the 2024 growing season. The plastic containers are filled with seeds of all varieties, from asparagus to zucchini, and as the days get longer, the time for planting is soon upon us. Popular vegetables to grow in summer, including tomatoes and peppers can be planted indoors as early as the first few weeks of March.

Seeds are pre-packaged in small envelopes and you can take as many as you feel you’ll need. We ask that anyone who takes seeds, fill out a short form that helps us keep track of our inventory. We can sustain the seed library through grants from the Wellness Center on campus and through donations from people who use our seed library and donate unused seeds or end-of-season harvested seeds for distribution.

On Friday, March 22 we will be unveiling a little seed library on the main campus, near the Edible Campus Gardens behind the Pioneer Memorial Theatre. A bright and colorful wooden box painted by local student and artist, Lydia Stueber, will display seeds, books, gardening tools, and other items relevant to gardening. The event will feature speaker Rikki Longino, Salt Lake City Public Library Garden Coordinator. Longino will speak about the importance of seed saving for a sustainable future, as part of our Climate Changes Health and Health Equity series. The Edible Campus Garden frequently hosts volunteer sessions and learning laboratories.

For a list of available seeds and other gardening tips and resources, visit our guide: https://campusguides.lib.utah.edu/seed

Main campus seed library opening

Friday, March 22, noon- 1 p.m.
Marriott Library, Room 2753
295 1500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112