Tweed Shire Council has officially launched the region’s first seed library, enabling residents to ‘borrow’ seeds to grow their own fruit, vegetables and other plants.
Gardening experts and enthusiasts joined with Tweed Shire Council, library and school representatives to celebrate the launch of the new seed library, which will be based at Murwillumbah Library to promote a sense of community sharing, sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Richmond Tweed Regional Library Branch Technician Linda Bell said it was the third seed library of its kind in New South Wales and the first in the Northern Rivers.
“Almost all the seeds have been donated by gardening groups and other locals, for plants which are already grown successfully in this area.
“The seeds can be ‘borrowed’ for free and taken home – just like a library book – and come with instructions on how to plant and look after them.
“People are encouraged to let some of the plants go to seed, then harvest and bring those seeds into the library so someone else can
borrow them.”
Tweed Area Librarian Colette Stapleton said the seed library was spawned by a suggestion from one of its regular customers and, after considerable public consultation to guide its implementation, was a great example of the library responding to community needs.
A guest speaker at the opening, gardening authority Julia Hancock, said seeds were the precious epicenter of our world and an important asset for the community.
“Whoever owns seeds, owns life,” she said.
Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne, told the audience at the launch she was continually amazed by the wonderful work and variety of services provided by the library staff.
“It’s one of the best services Council provides and is used by around 50 percent of our residents.”
