A field of Camas at Camassia Natural Area in West Linn. Camas is one of many native seeds available at the Seed Library at Lake Oswego Public Library.
Article submitted by Peter Katon, Design Native Northwest LLC
Libraries, long known for sowing ideas, are now helping the community sow seeds and build a community around seed sharing. Lake Oswego now has at least two seed libraries, one run by the Lake Oswego Public Library and the other by Friends of Tryon Creek.
By growing plants from seed people are connecting to the full life cycle of plants from seed to mature plants that bear their own seed to support the next generation. Plants grown from seed enhance genetic diversity since the mixing of genes from the same plant or other plants of the same species results in genetically unique offspring. As the seeds are planted by people, wind or wildlife, the offspring that survive then pass on their genes. Plants grown from seed foster adaptability and resilience where the offspring that survive the many threats such as climate change, disease and drought, are able to adapt and continue to support both plant diversity as well as the wildlife that depend on plant biodiversity to survive.
In addition to supporting plant biodiversity and wildlife habitat, food crops such as tomatoes, radishes and corn grown from seed are an important source of food security. Seed Libraries make gardening accessible by providing seed at no cost and by providing information and support to help gardeners of all experience levels be successful. If anyone has ever eaten a tomato picked straight from the garden, there is also of course a flavor advantage!
Lake Oswego Public Library Seed Library
The Lake Oswego Public Library launched their seed library in 2023. The seeds are stored and organized in a converted card catalog and patrons are welcome to take home a few seeds from up to 10 different species per day. Since April 2023 when the seed library launched and May 2025, the seed library has received 5,480 checkouts, according to librarian Rachael Hyde. Since September of 2024, the seed library has also distributed 50 Seed of the Month packets per month, seeds that can be planted immediately.
Unlike most materials in the library, seeds do not need to be returned. However, the library does accept and encourage seed donations from patrons. To support the scope and mission of the seed library, the library only accepts seeds that are open-pollinated vegetable, fruit, herb, grain, flowers and native seeds from seed companies and patrons.
On a recent June day a small sampling of the dozens of plant species held in the Seed Library collection include: Camas, Douglas Aster, Oregon Sunshine, tomatoes, radishes and leeks.
Native Seeds Added to Collection
During the Seed Library’s first year, the library offered vegetable, flower, herb, and grain seeds, though didn’t yet offer a dedicated native seed collection. There was strong demand for native seed from Seed Library users, said Hyde, and with help from a community member and input from the local native gardening community the library added a dedicated native seed collection in January of this year. “The response to the native seed offerings has been extremely positive, and it is probably the collection we need to replenish most frequently,” said Hyde. Providing native seed also fits in very well with the library’s gold-certified Backyard Habit, Hyde added.
Community Engagement
Linda Gaudin, a retired healthcare professional, has been instrumental in supporting both the library’s Backyard Habitat Certification project as well as the native seed collection for the Seed Library. In 2023, Gaudin responded to the library’s outreach efforts seeking community input and she proposed the idea of an educational native plant garden on the library campus. The library was supportive of the idea, and Gaudin recruited volunteers and sourced plants to help with the garden installation. In fall of 2024, the native plant garden received its gold-level certification.
When Gaudin became familiar with the library’s Seed Library, she realized there could be a strong synergy between the native plant garden and the Seed Library, if there could be a native seed collection added to the Seed Library. The librarian, Rachael Hyde, who is a Certified Oregon Naturalist and a participant with the Backyard Habit Certification program herself welcomed Gaudin’s offer of support to gather seed donations to get the native collection started. To further bridge the native plant garden and the Seed Library, Gaudin said that the plan is to collect seeds from the library’s native pollinator plants, which can be cleaned and packaged by volunteers and then shared with the community through the seed library.
Library volunteer, Linda Gaudin, in the pollinator garden at the library with Yarrow and Tufted Hairgrass, potential sources of native seed for the seed library.
Mobile Outreach
The Seed Library has a mobile operation called the Mobile Seed Library, which they take to farmers markets, pop up library events, and other outreach programs. The Mobile Seed Library now features 20 different types of seeds in pre-filled, grab-and-go packets. Outreach has included the LO Pride Festival and a pop-up library event at Mary’s Woods both in early June of this year. The Seed Library also regularly staffs a table at the Lake Oswego Sustainability Fair.
The library is planning a fall volunteer day for further planting and mulching in the library’s native plant garden. If you would like to participate, please contact library volunteer Linda Gaudin or Library Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator Nancy Niland:
Linda Gaudin: lgaudin@comcast.net
Nancy Niland: nniland@lakeoswego.city
Just about a mile north of the Lake Oswego Public Library, the Tryon Creek State Natural Area visitor center is home to a new seed library that was initiated in the summer of 2024. Seasonal assistant park ranger, Evergreen, came up with the initial idea and constructed it from a reclaimed display unit, said park ranger, Nik Eie.
“We put seeds on the shelf and 3 days later they’re gone,” said Eie. “Our biggest hope is more community engagement back and forth, sharing seeds and increasing biodiversity.”
Gardeners who may have a partial seed packet left over are encouraged to donate those seeds to the library, said Eie, “similar to leave a book, take a book Little Free Libraries.”
Opportunities to learn how to gather, clean and store native seed, are being planned for this summer, said Nanda Ramos, restoration program coordinator, with Friends of Tryon Creek. These educational opportunities are responding to demand expressed by the public in a recent public survey conducted by the Friends of Tryon Creek, said Ramos, adding that “88% of respondents expressed a specific desire to learn more about seed saving as a cultural land practice.”
The non-profit Friends of Tryon Creek leading the seed library effort is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to cultural restoration through traditional practices and values. The organization was recently awarded a small grant from the Portland Garden Club for the purpose of saving seeds and preserving Indigenous food culture. With the support from the grant, Friends of Tryon Creek aims to expand the impact of the seed library “by building the necessary infrastructure to sustain and distribute seeds effectively,” according to the grant narrative.
Opportunities to get involved with the Tryon Creek Seed Library will be posted soon on the Tryon Friends Events Calendar.
Seasonal assistant park ranger, Evergreen at the Tryon Creek Seed Library
A sampling of some of the seed species offered at the Tryon Creek Seed Library.
About the Author:
Peter Katon is an ecological landscape designer with Design Native Northwest and an OLWC Education and Outreach Committee volunteer.
