Hello Seed and Plant Enthusiasts!
As you may have noticed, it’s been a bit quiet on the Seed Library front as we’ve all taken up the many responsibilities that come along with the school year. But we were glad that some of you were able to join us at the U-M Library’s annual Party for Your Mind, where we were potting up beans and sharing native pollinator seeds. Here are a few beans that people successfully sprouted!
Small potted green bean.
Small bean sprout!
Happy Bean!
In the upcoming days you’ll also be able to find us at a few events on campus. Harvest Fest happens on Sunday, September 28th from 1-4pm. It takes place at Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd) so be sure to plan for travel time. A free bus will run from the Central Campus Transit Center and Wolverine on Wheels will lead group bike rides.
We’ll also be at Earthfest from 10am-2pm on Tuesday, September 30th on the Diag. At one of these events we’ll debut a fun new traveling seed dispenser! We'll also be on North Campus at UMSI debuting these machines from 12-1pm with complimentary opportunities to plant and care for your very own seedling - a double whammy of seedy fun! We hope you like it because we’re inviting you to help design seed container return receptacles… you’ll see what we mean when you come to meet the new machines!
Lastly, a U-M Climate Week event and reception will happen in our very own library. On Monday, September 29th from 4-6pm we will invite Phimmasone Owens, founder of the Refugee Garden Initiatives, to the Hatcher Graduate Library to speak on her experiences as a refugee, student at the University of Michigan and founder of the Freedom Garden at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens followed by her very own, highly successful non-profit, Refugee Garden Initiatives. This non-profit works to sustain the community through more than just food. They host cultural events and programming that’s good for the soul and uplifts the community. Please come hear Phimm’s story at 4pm and then join us at 5pm for food from Siam Square. Afterward, there’s a student mixer in the same space where you can enjoy drinks, desserts and conversation with other students who care about sustainability on campus.
You can find all of our event activities on the Seed Library website! Be sure to check it out and if you are feeling really seed-curious, consider visiting the 'Borderless Seed Stories' landing page for more!
Thank you to those of you who stopped by the Seed Library hangouts this summer! It was so helpful to us in getting the seeds out there and fun to hear about what you’ve been growing. Hopefully we’ll see you again soon!