Check Out This Library

The Hudson Valley Seed Library is a small, independent seed company that offers nearly 200 varieties of regionally-adapted vegetable, herb and flower seeds.

Launch Gallery

One of the seed companies that made a big picture on me at the National Heirloom Expo in September was theHudson Valley Seed Library . I chaffer many other source company booths during the Expo , but it was a large display of source packets feature colorful art that bewitch my eye .

It turns out the Art Packs are n’t the only affair different about this seed company .

“ I retrieve what makes the Seed Library unique from other seed companies is that we have the Seed Library Program , ” said Ken Greene , company co - founder . “ Our catalogue grew out of the desire to save local seed and to create a way to share seeds with each other . ”

The Hudson Valley Seed Library is committed to growing all of its seed in the same climate where the company is locate . That would be Hardiness Zone 5b in upstate New York near the Catskills .

Gardeners who fight with grow in brusk - season mood will appreciate being able to recover a in force assortment of vegetable that mature in a brusque amount of time . Of course , anyone who gardens in a zone with longer season can also grow these seeds .

“ Most people look at a catalog and all the delicious varieties and choose the watermelon that sounds best , but the season may not be long enough , ” Ken said . “ We arise in a short season that ’s record book finish with cold atmospheric condition so our seeds do great in four - time of year areas . ”

The fellowship sells only heirloom , open - pollinated seeds . About 60 varieties are arise on the Seed Library ’s two - acre farm , using traditional germ saving and germ cleansing processes .

“ It ’s a labor - intensive process , but it go with our mission of saving the finish of cum delivery and the techniques of growing on a little farm without equipment that uses fossil fuel , ” Ken enjoin .

The company grew out of a smaller seed library effort that Ken started at a public library eight twelvemonth ago . Four years ago he and his stage business partner , Doug Muller , decided to throw in their job and work full - time to work the Seed Library into a business .

Three Seed Pack Options

The Hudson Valley Seed Library has three different types of semen packets , Art Packs , Library Packs and Garden Packs .

Art camp

Art Packs are the attractive seed packet that feature artwork from dissimilar artists in the heavy New York region . artwork Packs give vegetable , flower and herb multifariousness and are available for purchase from thecompany ’s online catalog .

Look for strange variety like ‘ Aunt Molly ’s ’ solid ground cherry , ‘ Long Island Cheese ’ pumpkin , ‘ Sugar Baby ’ watermelons , and Ken ’s all - time favorite tomato plant call ‘ Goldie ’ .

gardener can sign up for the e-mail list to be the first to know when the newfangled catalogue is on-line in January .

Library pack

Library Packs take germ grown by penis farmers and nurseryman . Members pay an annual membership fee ( $ 25 ) and get a rank kit with seed - saving envelopes and a option of any 10 varieties from the catalog . Membership is limited to gardener who grow in Zone 5 or colder .

Saving seed to repay to the library is optional , but serves as an inducement . fellow member who “ match out ” seeds , grow them , and return the seeds to the library get a cite toward their next year ’s membership fee .

Garden Packs

Garden Packs are filled with seminal fluid buy from sweeping seed provider . “ We are careful about where our seeds come from , ” Ken say . “ We wo n’t buy from companies lock by collective biotech interests . We know where our seed comes from . ”

With every packet of Art Pack seeds, gardeners get a miniature work of art.Photo/Illustration: Hudson Valley Seed Library

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