기본 콘텐츠로 건너뛰기

Planting a seed: FVRLibraries and Vancouver Bee Project seed libraries growing in popularity

 

Planting a seed: FVRLibraries and Vancouver Bee Project seed libraries growing in popularity



Books and movies aren’t the only things you can check out from FVRLibraries. Several branches now offer a seed library, where residents can get seeds for a variety of plants and flowers at no cost.

“Community members come in. They check out packets of seeds. They grow those seeds during the growing season, and then hopefully at the end of that season, they collect some of those seeds to then bring back to the library. And the cycle goes around and around and around,” said Zoe Nash, branch manager of the Washougal Community Library, 1661 C St., Washougal, which houses a seed library.

Seed libraries can be also found at branches in Cascade Park, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver; Battle Ground, 1207 S.E. Eighth Way, Battle Ground; and White Salmon Valley, 77 N.E. Wauna Ave., White Salmon. The library is available to all Clark County residents. A library card is not required.

“We love it. It’s so popular,” Nash said.

Along with gardeners returning the following year with their harvested seeds, the library gets donations from local groups including Washington Grange No. 82, Friends of the Library, gardening clubs, the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program, among others. When it comes to seed donations, the library is ready to take most any plant offered.

“Ideally, it would be heirloom varieties, because they are the best, especially for local conditions. However, we don’t always get back what we have so we’re pretty nondiscriminatory at this point of what we take into the seed library, just so that we have seeds,” said Rachael Ries, branch manager at Cascade Park Community Library.

The program began in 2018 when the first seed library launched at the Washougal branch. Ries, who was the branch manager at the time, said she was approached by community members asking for a seed library. The next year, they asked again. The library decided to partner with the Master Gardener Program to get the project off the ground.

“I had two volunteers who helped sort seeds, get them labeled, helped set up the format of kind of our seed catalog,” she said. “Washougal is unique because it has raised beds in behind City Hall.”

The idea was to plant seeds in the raised beds and then harvest the seeds. That harvest is still happening now, although the program has grown beyond their capacity.

Older library patrons will likely be more familiar with the cataloging system used at the Washougal branch.

“It’s just like an old card catalog. You pull out a drawer, you find the packets of seeds you want, you take them home,” Nash said.

The library does ask patrons to follow a few guidelines. Visitors can check out three seed packets per visit. Store seed in a cool, dark and dry location. When returning seeds, seed varieties should be separated, with a label and date donated included.

Like dandelions, the popularity of the seed library has grown rapidly.

“Especially during spring when people are gearing up towards that, we get a ton of people that come in,” Nash said.

The seed packets also have information about where and when to grow the seeds. The library has resources available for patrons needing additional information on the seeds they are checking out.

“Sometimes we pair that with other programs, like the Master Gardener Program, so we will have some kind of knowledgeable people available … so that if people do have gardening questions they can generally come either to the library program or the Master Gardeners directly,” Nash said.

“We usually will have some books out on display or resources that are close. Not all the time, because they get checked out, so it’s hard to keep it stocked. But if people have questions, we’re happy to answer their questions,” Ries said.

Bee Project

Gardeners wanting to plant only native species can check out Vancouver Bee Project’s seed library, which launched this fall. Vancouver Bee Project offers seeds from the Portland Plant List, a list of plants found in the region prior to settlement.

To get the program going, Vancouver Bee Project hosted several fundraising events, spokesman Kyle Roslund said.

“We had plants that were sponsored and purchased, and seed — native seed — that was sponsored and purchased as a startup. We had about six events at River City Church, and then we did another half-dozen pop-ups where we just went to other events, where we took plants and took seeds and provided them to community members,” Roslund said.

In all, he said they gave out 3,046 packets of native plant seeds and 1,835 plants with 1,701 individuals participating.

The program is available to all Clark County residents and is free of charge.

“We did it with the idea that people will engage and bring seeds back next fall to share in the library again,” he said. “A big part of what we do is try and educate folks on native plants, which need to be planted in the fall.”


Roslund said the seed library is a great way for homeowners participating in the Watershed Alliance’s backyard certification programs to get access to native plants, which can be expensive when purchased from local nurseries or online.

Although Vancouver Bee Project won’t know how successful the program is or how many seeds will be returned until next fall, Roslund was confident the program will continue.

“It’s just a great way to build community, get important plants out into the world and network. For folks to be able to trade those plants and seeds, and talk about their struggles and other things, that’s always good,” he said.


댓글

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering MagR and Cry2 gene expression

  Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering  MagR  and  Cry2  gene expression Dinotefuran is known to negatively affect honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) behavior, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The magnetoreceptor ( MagR , which responds to magnetic fields) and cryptochrome ( Cry2 , which is sensitive to light) genes are considered to play important roles in honey bees’ homing and localization behaviors. Our study found that dinotefuran, even without direct contact, can act like a magnet, significantly altering  MagR  expression in honeybees. This non-contact exposure reduced the bees’ homing rate. In further experiments, we exposed foragers to light and magnetic fields, the  MagR  gene responded to magnetic fields only in the presence of light, with  Cry 2 playing a key switching role in the magnetic field receptor mechanism ( MagR–Cry2 ). Yeast two-hybrid and BiFc assays confirmed an interactio...

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis Earlier this year, midwives from 41 countries shared their experiences of working in communities affected by climate change through our survey, Midwives’ Experiences and Perspectives on Climate Change. Their voices shaped our new report, Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis , which highlights how midwives are already responding to the health impacts of climate disasters like floods, wildfires, and extreme heat—and why they must be included in climate action plans. What did we learn?Climate change is damaging community health: 75% of midwives reported that climate change is harming the communities they serve, with rising rates of preterm births, food insecurity, and restricted access to care during disasters like floods. Midwives are critical first responders: Midwives are often the first and only healthcare providers on the ground in crises, delivering care during wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Midwives face signi...

Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor

  Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor Newspaper distributor Pushparaja Shetty (45), who sustained severe injuries in a bee attack, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Mangaluru. Pushparaja was attacked by a swarm of bees on Wednesday morning while walking at Kenjaru Taangadi under Bajpe town panchayat limits. He was immediately admitted to a hospital for treatment but could not survive the ordeal. Fondly known as ‘Boggu’ in the Porkodi area, Pushparaja was well-known for his dedication to delivering newspapers on foot to every household. He was admired for his generosity, as he often distributed sweets to schoolchildren on Independence Day using his own earnings and contributed part of his income to the betterment of society. Pushparaja was unmarried and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

“Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns

  “Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns The World Beekeeping Awards will not grant a prize for honey next year due to the “inability” to thoroughly test honey for adulteration. The announcement comes amid the rise of honey fraud in the EU, where a 2023 investigation found that 46% of 147 honey samples tested were likely contaminated with low-cost plant syrups.  Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, organizes the event at its Congress, whose 49th edition will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2025. The conference brings together beekeepers, scientists and other stakeholders. “We will celebrate honey in many ways at the Congress, but honey will no longer be a category, and thus, there will be no honey judging in the World Beekeeping Awards. The lessons learned from Canada 2019 and Chile 2023 were that adequate testing was impossible if we are to award winning honey at the Con...

Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific

  Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific In an exciting development for environmentalists and beekeeping experts, researchers have discovered eight new species of masked bees in the Pacific Islands, shining a light on the rich biodiversity hidden within the forest canopy. This discovery underscores the critical role bees play in our ecosystems and the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect these vital pollinators. A New Frontier in Bee Research By exploring the forest canopy, scientists have opened a new frontier in bee research, revealing species that have adapted to life high above the ground. These discoveries are crucial for understanding the complex relationships between bees, flora, and the broader ecosystem. The new species of masked bees, characterized by their striking black bodies with yellow or white highlights, particularly on their faces, rely exclusively on the forest canopy for survival. The Importance of Bee Conservation...

Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee

  Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee There are lots of opportunities to be as busy as a bee during these winter holidays. As we hustle toward the dawn of the New Year, it can be hard to notice that the natural world is actually suggesting something different for us right now. We’re past the solstice, but the winter still stretches ahead, the days are still short and the nights long. We’re being invited into a quieter, more inner-focused time. The ancient yogis were all about this inner focus. In India, for example, the Upanishads, the Sanskrit writings that accompanied the development of Hinduism — and alongside it, yoga — beginning around 800 B.C.E., went deeper than earlier texts had into philosophy and questions of being. With the goals of increased inner awareness and higher consciousness, yoga was at that time not yet as focused on the body or on asanas, as it now can tend to be. But the yogis did develop many practices to try to open the way to those goals. They discovered...

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face Bees have been an integral part of our ecosystem and human agriculture for over four centuries, primarily utilized for their honey in the early days. Now, they are recognized more for their critical role in pollination, which directly impacts a vast majority of the food we consume. Mark Lilly, a prominent beekeeper, emphasizes that without bees' pollination efforts, a significant portion of our diet would be at risk. However, bees face numerous threats, including varroa mites and, in specific regions like West Virginia, black bears. These challenges necessitate concerted efforts for preservation and protection. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Why are bees so important to the ecosystem? A1: Bees are crucial for pollinating plants, which is necessary for the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without bees, a large portion of the food we eat would not be available. Q2: What are the main threats to...

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles As the number of pets in South Korea steadily increases, pet owners face a growing dilemma due to the limited number of pet cemeteries across the country. Under the current legal framework, pet remains are classified as household waste, requiring specific disposal methods that are neither convenient nor easily accessible for all citizens. The imbalance between the rising pet population—over 5.52 million households with pets by the end of 2022—and the mere 70 registered pet cemeteries has led to significant challenges. This shortage is particularly evident in regions like Jeju Island, where pet owners must undergo arduous journeys to the mainland to ensure their pets receive proper burials. The root cause of this shortage lies in the strict regulations governing the establishment of pet cemeteries. These facilities, which must include crematoriums, face numerous restrictions, such as proximity to resident...

Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive

  Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals a distressing consequence of global warming: the irreversible loss of valuable climate data stored in alpine glaciers. The research, conducted by a team led by Margit Schwikowski from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), underscores the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting and highlights the implications for climate research. The study focuses on the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in Switzerland, where ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 were intended to serve as vital climate archives. However, comparing the two sets of ice cores reveals a grim reality—global warming has rendered the glacier unsuitable as a reliable climate archive. Glaciers, renowned as climate archives, encapsulate valuable information about past climatic conditions and atmospheric compositions. The fluctuating concentrations of trace substances in ice layers provide insights into historica...

German election: Climate and environment take a back seat

  German election: Climate and environment take a back seat When the coalition government comprising the center-left  Social Democratic Party (SPD) ,  Greens  and neoliberal  Free Democratic Party (FDP)  emerged after the last German federal election in the fall of 2021, then-incoming Chancellor  Olaf Scholz  (SPD) did not object to being called the "climate chancellor." That was no surprise: the climate crisis had been a top issue during the election campaign. The new government made the fight against climate change a task for the Economy Ministry and appointed Vice Chancellor  Robert Habeck  from the Greens as its head. Three and a half years later, campaign speeches barely mention climate protection. The dominant issues are how to curb irregular immigration and how to boost Germany's sluggish economy. Skeptical view of renewable energy The head of the center-right  Christian Democratic Union (CDU) ,  Friedrich Merz ...