Why Save Seeds?
Seeds are the foundation of gardening and food security. Rather than buying seeds, we can save them to create a self-sustaining supply. The ancient practice of seed-saving allows growers to build agency over their food supply by selecting for the best and most resilient traits in their crops, and sharing them with each other!
Our Seed Program’s goal is to build local seed-saving 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 seed-saving and growing skills.
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.
“Whatever happens to seeds affects the web of life.”
– VANDANA SHIVA
SEED LIBRARY
The Seed Library collection is dedicated for 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 self-ers (meaning they will grow true-to-type, rather than hybridizing into whole new varieties through cross-pollination).
HOW IT WORKS
Seed Saver Membership – $25
Seed Savers are members who check out seeds from the Seed Library and commit to stewarding, saving, and returning the seed variety at the end of the season. Seed-savers are part of a limited-capacity pilot cohort with special access to learning resources, seed-saving mentorship, and peer education!
No access to seed library without membership
Members plant seeds from the library, care for the plants, and let some go to seed. These seeds can be collected, dried, and returned to the library for use in following years.
Benefits:
- AGM voting rights
- Monthly Newsletter
- Ability to check out as many seeds as you like
- Free entry to a seed saving 101 with primer on UB seed library
Expectation: Members plant seeds from the library, care for the plants, and let some go to seed. These seeds can be collected, dried, and returned to the library for use in following years.
Questions? Email us at info@urbanbounty.ca or call us at 604-244-7377
Seed Program Volunteering Opportunities
Our Seed Program is volunteer-grown! Join to contribute to local seed security by helping Urban Bounty pack seeds, run events, and harvest seeds from the Demonstration Garden.
Seed Supporter
- Organizing and packing seeds, assisting with seed related events, light operational tasks, catalog updates
- minimum commitment: 2-4 hours/month
Seed Librarians (core volunteers)
- Schedule library hours, manage inventory, keep records, onboard members
- minimum commitment: 2 hours a week during peak season October – March, 2-4 hours/month the rest of the year, plus additional events as needed year-round
Community Garden Member Perk: Free Seeds!
Urban Bounty community gardeners can collect 3 free seed packets from our collection each year! To get seeds, garden members can come to our office at 7611 Ash St., Richmond, BC during Seed Library Open Hours to browse the seed collection, ask questions, and pick up seeds.
Drop-in Hours:
- Tuesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., March-June
- Thursdays 4-6 p.m., March-June
We have varieties including: amaranth, arugula, basil, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, chrysanthemum, carrot, corn, coriander, cucumber, eggplant, kale, peas, squashes, turnips, chard, mustard greens, radishes, melons, okra, parsley, peppermint, quinoa, sage, scallion, and many types of flowers!
If you’re looking for something specific, emails info@urbanbounty.ca and we will check it we have it.
