The University of Michigan community came together on Earth Day, April 22nd, to celebrate the launch of the Seed Library in the newly renovated 3rd floor Clark Commons Shapiro Gallery space. Focusing on seed-themed hands-on activities designed to enhance local biodiversity education and community-centered practices, students, faculty, and community members explored seed-saving activities and sustainability initiatives operating throughout our vibrant campus community!
Visitors are greeted by students from the U-M Sustainable Food Program
The event started with interactive workshops aimed at two goals: to educate and foster engagement by imparting practical skills and to cultivate personal and collective knowledge about growing from seed and nurturing local biodiversity. Among these small workshops, participants created seed dumplings from clay, soil, and seed - ideal for home gardens or guerrilla gardening endeavors, where these dumplings can be thrown into spaces that would benefit from a burst of native plant life!
Students making seed dumplings
Another standout was the cyanotype workshop. Under Raymond Wetzel's guidance, along with a few dedicated student volunteers, participants selected from a variety of botanical specimens to create unique art using a UV-light paper printing process. The result was beautiful cyan-blue prints that captured the silhouette of each specimen. When paper was running low, students opted to start making quarter sheets and create smaller designs to help share access to reciprocal resources and creative learning - just the sort of collaborative and caring practices we hope the seed library at large will inspire in our campus community!
Students line up to make cyanotypes
The creative energy flowed into the next activity where participants crafted small recycled newspaper plant pots. An assortment of seeds awaited participants' selection, where their seed journey could begin with a choice of vegetable, wildflower, or herb seeds from the Seed Library, situated in the Design-O-Matic on the first floor of Shapiro.
Environ 391 student presentations on their findings & newspaper pot making in progress
Checking out the Seed Library
The turnout was fantastic, with people from all corners of our community stopping by to show their support, grab a snack, and dig into the day's activities. It was encouraging to see and we're excited to keep this positive momentum going. Our aim is to continue offering educational and engaging activities that put our community at the heart of the Seed Library's ongoing story!
Matthaei Botanical Gardens - Liz Glynn & volunteers
All in all, an estimated 200 campus community members joined in at the event. We couldn't be prouder of the connections and growth fostered on this day. We're inspired to keep these initiatives blooming and we hope you’ll join us in shaping a green, environmentally conscious future. Here's to fostering growth, together—one seed at a time.
The Maize & Blue Food Cupboard supporting seeds of sustainability
To get in touch with the U-M Seed Library team, contact umseedlibrary@umich.edu.