PEABODY — Once again, the library is inviting residents to participate in PeaPod, its community seed-exchange initiative.
Participants are invited to begin building their own gardens ― be it a window box, a rooftop oasis, or a piece of land. The program, called PeaPod, started on Wednesday.
The goal of the initiative is “to take people outside in the spring,” as Library Director Cate Merlin put it.
“Gardeners of all skills, from beginner to master, all ages, and all types of gardens are invited to browse the PeaPod’s seed selection,” an announcement on the library’s website said.
According to the website, a seed exchange ― also known as a seed library ― is a community resource that provides people with a catalog of flower, herb, and vegetable seeds free of charge.
Merlin said that in 2019, when the PeaPod was held for the first time, the seeds were available at all three Peabody Institute Library locations, including the Main Library and the South and West branches. In 2020, the library was closed at all locations due to the pandemic, but Merlin took hundreds of packets of seeds home and took online requests, then mailed the seeds to those who requested them.
Last year, only the main branch of the library was open, and the seeds were placed outside for the people to take.
“This year, we are back to normal (and) we have about 3,000 packets of seeds available in all of our branches,” said Merlin.
This year, urban flowers and vegetable seeds for all different types of soil are available. The library’s goal is to ultimately offer classes in seed saving at the end of this summer so that, after people grow plants using the seeds provided by the library, they can then save some for other people to use in their own plantings a year from now.
The idea was that many of the gardeners participating in the program would decide to save, preserve, and donate seeds at the end of the harvest. Although in 2019 PeaPod was stocked with “extremely generous donations,” as the library website said, the initial aim of the project ― to become self-replenishing by 2020 ― was not achieved, due to the pandemic.
The new deadline for the project to become self-replenishing is either 2023 or 2024. The new goal, according to Merlin, is to get people planting this summer and then start offering classes about seed saving.
“Hopefully for next year we will have a combination of new seeds and seeds that have been returned,” said Merlin.
To participate in the program, participants must come to the library, fill out a PeaPod membership form, and browse the PeaPod seed catalog. After deciding on which seeds to plant, participants will need to ask the library staff for empty seed packets.
After filling out the label on the provided packet with important planting information, it’s time to start planting.
The library recommends taking two to three seeds per plant ― or a pinch of seeds if they’re very small ― and then returning the PeaPod’s seed packet to the catalog. The library will also appreciate the donation of a few unopened packs of seeds to help stock next year’s PeaPod.
“The goal is to get kids and their families, adults, teenagers, and everybody outside and growing something,” said Merlin.
She also said the initiative should help people stay kind and optimistic during hard times.
The Peabody Institute Library has lots of books and resources to help readers to get started on their gardens. The PeaPod program plans to continue to grow every year and to offer a true community experience. The public can come and take what is needed for gardens, containers, backyards, and green spaces.
For more information, please visit: https://www.peabodylibrary.org/freeforall/?p=10679.