For several years the JMU Libraries has maintained a seed library in the lobby of Carrier Library. This seed library provides seeds for any member of the community to use in their own gardens and also serves as a place for seed savers to share their own seeds. Gifts to the Libraries General Fund will be used to purchase seeds for the seed library and materials to continue this service.
Funding will also be used to sponsor educational events related to seed saving and food equity.
The Community Seed Library is a self-service seed sharing library provided by JMU Libraries, and available to all. No library card is necessary!
We provide seeds for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. We prioritize heirloom or open-pollinated seeds and plants that are well-suited to growing conditions in the Shenandoah Valley. We also strive to provide culturally relevant seed types, recognizing the diverse populations and gardening knowledge of our neighbors across the Valley and their plant traditions.
We have two options for obtaining seeds:
Carrier Library at James Madison University
-located in the main lobby
Central Branch of Massanutten Regional Library in downtown Harrisonburg
-MRL's Community Seed Library is located in the “quarantine room," which is staffed and clearly marked. The Seed Library is easily accessed upon entry into MRL’s Central Library.