Place your Spring Library Order Here: https://forms.gle/bnhfMajPBqkQtV6r6
Order locally donated seeds here at the Community Seed Exchange: https://forms.gle/2jQq6vJ5w9ihm3g17
Donate to The Seed Library using our Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HQBDH9BSTKQUS&source=url&ssrt=1737817198727
The order form for our Seed Library is now open!! Visit the first link above to order seeds from The Seed Library, which features seeds from commercial seed companies. This year, in addition to seeds donated from seed companies, we have been able to purchase many popular varieties from top seed companies that have so generously donated to us in the past. Our funding for these purchases has come from a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. A list of donating companies can be found below. Click on these links to look up your seeds from The Seed Library to find planting information directly from the companies that produced the seeds.
Follow us on Instagram @RSCLSeedExchange to see what’s new in the Seed Library. We also post regularly on the Roaring Spring Community Library Facebook page.
For questions, volunteer information, feedback about your seeds, or special requests please email us at:
What is the Seed Library?
The Seed Library at the Roaring Spring Community Library was created to promote gardening and food security. It serves residents of Blair, Huntingdon, and Bedford counties. Residents of these counties may order seeds from The Seed Library order form, and pick up their order from a library of their choosing within those counties. All seeds are free. There are two types of seed libraries within the RSCL, and each has a different source of seeds. The Seed Library offers seeds from commercial seed companies, and the Community Seed Exchange Library offers seeds from local gardeners who have saved their seeds and donated them back to us. The seed libraries are separate, and each has its own order form.
Seed Library Rules
You must have a library card to place an order with either seed library starting January 2025. Contact your library for details on obtaining a card. One order per library (The Seed Library and The Community Seed Exchange) is allowed for each library card account/household between the months of January-March. If our supplies are not exhausted, we will allow an additional order per card/household after announcing via RSCL Website or Facebook page in April. If you place a seed library order and do not pick up your order, we will not fill future orders for you. It takes time not only to fill your order, but also to re-stock it when you don’t pick it up. Please don’t waste valuable volunteer time if you aren’t serious about picking up your order.
If we run low on seeds or if we get backlogged with requests, we may suspend the Seed Library service and announce future availability when it occurs.
If a household cannot place their own order we require an individual living in that household to call the library (814-224-2994) for assistance in placing their own order.
Should you have any questions or need assistance with your order please contact the Library (814-224-2994) or email RSCLseedexchange@gmail.com
Who pays for the Seed Library?
We currently have a goal of raising funds through Seed Library patron donations and using those funds each year to purchase seeds from the companies that have generously donated to us. We can then offer fresh, popular seeds, and support seed companies instead of just giving their “old” seeds away. As little as $3 donation per order would be sufficient to run The Seed Library the following year. Every dollar helps, and every cent is used to purchase seeds or envelopes. You can make a donation through the Paypal link above, or send a check to The Roaring Spring Community Library. Be sure to include Seed Library in the memo so we get all the funds!
The 2025 seed library has been made possible through grants from Pennsylvania DEP as well as donations from the following seed companies:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds https://www.rareseeds.com
Bentley Seeds https://bentleyseeds.com
Burpee https://www.burpee.com
Eden Brothers https://www.edenbrothers.com
Charles C. Hart Seed Co. https://hartseed.com
Hoss Seeds https://growhoss.com
MIgardener https://migardener.com
MFRE – Mississippi Foundation for Renewable Energy https://www.backwoodsenergy.org
Peaceful Valley https://www.groworganic.com
Sow Right Seeds https://sowrightseeds.com
PA DEP grant money pays for supplies for the library, such as envelopes, office supplies, ink stamps, printing and paper, and additional in-demand seeds.
What kinds of seeds does the Seed Library offer?
Seed donations come directly from the seed manufacturers, and typically include seeds that have not been sold within their “sell by” date. Since many seeds retain good germination rates beyond this “sell by” date, we are able to offer them for to local gardeners for free. Most seeds are from the previous selling season, and a few are from the year before that. Not all seeds are “expired” seeds, however. Some companies donate fresh seeds, or even gift cards to order from their current stock. The Seed Library receives a large variety of seeds, from flowers and vegetable, to herbs and rare varieties. We have many varieties that you may not have even heard of, and offering a sample of these seeds provide many people with an opportunity to try something new that they may not have tried otherwise.
Who operates the Seed Library and what do they do?
The seed library is run by volunteers through the Roaring Spring Community Library, as well as volunteer support from Penn State Extension Master Gardeners program. Volunteers request donations, write grants, inventory seeds, organize seed catalogs, manage online information, post social media, and fill orders when the library opens. The bulk of the volunteer work, however, is repackaging seeds into new, smaller envelopes for wider distribution of the seed supply. The Seed Library would not be possible without the help of all of the volunteers who offer their time to the community gardeners that utilize this service. Each year we grow, we need the help of more volunteers. Seed volunteers get first access to our library selection each year, and are able to get some of the rare or limited quantity seeds that don’t make it to the general seed library selection.
How do I get involved with the Seed Library?
If you would like to help with the seed library, email us.
How do I order seeds?
All orders for seeds are placed through an online google form (see links at the top of this page). You may choose up to 25 different seed packets/varieties using this form. It will require your name, email, library card number, phone number, and your desired library location for pick up. Unfortunately, we do not have the funds to ship seeds to users. Because of the high demand for certain seed varieties, the seed of your choice may be unavailable by the time your order is filled. If this happens, we will substitute another comparable seed variety if we are able. If you order more than 25 varieties, we will choose which 25 you receive. We currently only offer 1 packet per variety, with the ability to request an additional packet for two choices. Special requests may be honored by emailing us.
What does the information on my seed packet mean?
When you receive your order, your seed packets will most likely be hand-written by someone who has repackaged your seeds. Your plant name will be at the top, with the variety labeled underneath. At the bottom of the seed packet you will see the company that the seed originated from. This information is the most helpful if you are looking for directions on how to plant the seed and care for the plant. Links to all of the donating seed companies above are the best route to finding your specific seed packet information. All seed packets, starting in 2024, will also have the year stamped or written on every packet. This information indicates the seed is new to the seed library for that year, and does not necessarily mean it was harvested for that year. We recommend you refer to the companies instructions for each variety prior to planting.
How many seeds are in each packet?
When we receive our company donated seeds, we try to decide how we can serve the most gardeners with that supply of seeds, while still giving each individual gardener a good harvest from that quantity of seed. Seeds varieties that are plentiful are filled more heavily than rare varieties. Some plants, like pumpkins, will have fewer seeds in them when compared to other plants, like spinach or lettuce. We expect that our gardeners will use the entire pack of seeds for the current growing year. If you did not get the germination you expected, or simply didn’t get enough seeds of a particular variety, you may put in an email request for an additional seed packet. We appreciate this information, so we can adjust seed quantities in the future, or for that particular variety. Let us know if you simply couldn’t get your seeds to germinate. We will try to figure out why, and get replacement seeds for you.
How do I determine how to grow my seeds?
If you are growing something new that you may be unfamiliar with, we recommend that you look at the company on your seed packet, then use the company link above to search for your specific seed. For seeds from the Community Seed Exchange, we recommend you do a little research prior to planting your seeds. Many seeds from this library will have special planting needs, such as cold stratification (many natives require this). Winter sowing also is useful for many of these native seed varieties. Other things to keep in mind when sowing seeds:
Pre-soaking seeds prior to planting (eg. peas, parsley, New Zealand Spinach)
Surface sowing seeds that need light to germinate (eg. mints, some carrots and lettuces)
Deeper sowing for seeds that need dark to germinate (eg. sunflowers)
Using heat mats for warmer soil temperatures (eg. tomatoes and peppers)
Refrigerating seeds prior to planting (many herbs and some natives)
Starting seeds indoors to ensure plentiful harvests
THE COMMUNITY SEED EXCHANGE LIBRARY
What is the Seed Exchange Library and how is it different from the Seed Library?
The Seed Exchange Library is a different selection of seeds, donated exclusively from our local gardeners. They harvest their own grown seeds, and donate them to us in the fall for distribution the following season. 2025 will be our second year of The Community Seed Exchange, with more varieties being offered.
Why is the Community Seed Exchange Library important?
Offering local seeds is a great way to promote plant diversity, instead of relying only on seeds from a few commercial companies that dominate the industry nationally. This seed supply is more sustainable, being totally free and not relying on requested donations. Since the seeds are free, we are not required to test the seeds for purity or germination rates. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that your ordered seeds will sprout, or turn into the plant labeled on the package. This also means that you may be pleasantly surprised with the seeds that you received.
What types of seeds are donated to the Seed Exchange Library?
We are currently accepting all types of flower and herb seeds. For vegetables, we only accept beans, tomatoes, peppers, ornamental pumpkins and gourds. All other vegetables are sufficiently stocked in the regular Seed Library and are too tricky when it comes to cross-pollination to confidently offer in the Community Seed Exchange. We don’t want our patrons spending all summer growing a winter squash, only to harvest in the fall and find it’s unsuitable for consumption because the seed was cross-pollinated.
How do I donate seeds to the Seed Exchange Library?
Please email us for information on how to donate your seeds to us. Seed donations MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DEC 1st.