Seed Security Program

Why Save Seeds?

Seeds are the foundation of gardening and sustainable food security. Saving seeds from local crops, rather than buying new ones from seed companies, can save money, culture, and climate.

The practice of seed saving promotes a locally-adapted and diverse seed supply, which makes our regional food system more resilient to disruptions. In keeping and exchanging seeds, we also develop new ways of thinking about growing food – with seeds as something to collectively care for rather than a commodity.

Our Seed Program’s main goal is to build local capacity through education and community engagement. Through initiatives like our Seed Library, Seedy Saturday Events and Cover Crop Program, we support our local gardeners and community organizations to share and maintain seed skills.

“Whatever happens to seeds affects the web of life.”

– VANDANA SHIVA

Getting Seeds from Urban Bounty

Members can request 3 seed packets from Urban Bounty each year via our Seed Request Form. There are 2 options: the Seed Library, and the Seed Donation Pool.

• Seed Library: These seeds are dedicated to saving – grow out the seeds, let the best, healthiest plants go to seed, save them, label them carefully with year and variety, and bring them back to Urban Bounty next year! Our online seed library catalog only includes beginner-friendly seeds, which are open-pollinated selfers (meaning they will grow true-to-type, rather than hybridizing into whole new varieties).

• Donation Pool: If you don’t feel like saving seeds, you can request seeds as donations. These are older seeds with lower-germination rates, meaning they might not grow as well, but they’re free! No pressure to save or return the seeds next season.

---

SEED LIBRARY

A seed library is a collection of seeds donated by community members and organizations to be shared with the community. Members request seeds from the library and use them to grow food throughout the growing season. At the end of the season, members collect, dry, clean and save their seeds for personal use and return some to the library. This is how we keep our library stocked for members to use.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Request Seeds

Browse our Online Seed Catalog to see what is available.
Fill out our online Seed Request Form to become a seed librarian! You can request up to three varieties of seeds per season.

2. Visit the Seed Library
Once your order is ready, you can pick it up from our library at
7611 Ash Street, Richmond, BC (Paulik Park), in our secure seed box.

3. Saving your seeds

Plant your Seeds
Plant your seeds and go through your growing season as normal. Once your crop is ready to harvest, simply leave some plants in the ground (ideally the healthiest and most productive plants) and allow them to go to seed.

Save your Seeds
Once your crop has produced seeds, you can collect, clean and dry the seeds!
New to saving seeds?
We provide informational resources and workshops throughout the year to help you become a confident seed saver. Click here for resources and here for our list of workshops.

4. Donate Seeds back to our Library

In exchange for providing seeds, we encourage members to donate seeds back to the library at the end of the season. This will help our library maintain a good and diverse seed supply.

Donating seeds is very easy! Follow these simple steps to return your seeds:

1. Complete the Seed Donation Form
2. Place your seeds in an envelope labelled with your name and contact information
3. Drop off the seeds at your convenience into the Seed Program Box outside our office (7611 Ash Street, Richmond)

Note: if you donate more than one variety of seeds, please follow the above process for each type.

Questions? Email us at info@urbanbounty.ca or call us at 604-244-7377

Considerations For Seed Donations:

• Types of Seed – Our library includes a diverse set of crop varieties. These include a collection of vegetables, herbs and flowers.
• Quantity – Ideally members can return more seeds than they originally borrowed so we can continue to grow the library and support members. We will be happy to accept donations of any size.
• We still welcome donations if you cannot save seeds but have leftover seeds that you have purchased.

---