Seed Library
Grow your own herbs, vegetables, and native plants, with help from the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL) seed library.
- Use the (incomplete!) database or search the drawers to select your seed packets (up to ten each month.)
- The database lists less than half of our seeds! We can’t keep up with the new additions.
- Write your name and seed type(s) on a check-out slip.
- Leave your completed slip in the drawer labeled “check out.”
Donating Seeds
We welcome donations of saved and open-pollinated commercial seeds (opened or not.)
- Complete a donation slip, available at our seed library, for each seed type.
- Label each seed package and leave them, plus each donation slip, in our donation box.
Native Gardening 101: Supporting Pollinators
Deb Ellis, founder and leader of the NJ Native Plant Society Essex County chapter, explained why biodiversity matters, how native plants can help, and which shrubs and flowers are especially easy to grow.
How to be on the Pollinator Pathway FAQ
More help for gardeners of all experience levels:
- Ridgewood Project 1000 Acres — see the 3-foot native plant garden Elaine Silverstein created for them.
- Ridgewood Pollinator Pathway
- The NJ Native Plant Society offers shopping lists you can use when searching for plants.
- Our April sustainability challenge includes many more ideas.
These generous donors have made the RPL seed library possible:
- Friends of the Ridgewood Library funded supplies and events.
- High Mowing Organic Seeds and Hudson Valley Seed donated many seed packets.
- NJ Native Plant Society members collected, cleaned, and delivered hundreds of native seeds.
- Seed Saver Exchange donated hundreds of seed packets.
- Many patient teen volunteers have folded just as many seed envelopes.
