Kimberley Seed Library Now Open for the 2026 Growing Season

The Kimberley Seed Library is now stocked and ready for the 2026 growing season at the Kimberley Public Library!

The Kimberley Seed Library is a simple idea with a big goal: helping more people grow food locally. By providing free donated seeds (and encouraging the sharing of saved or still-viable seeds amongst other gardens/gardeners), the initiative supports more home and community gardening throughout the region. For example, last year the Kimberley Seed Library stand helped distribute over 800 seed packets into the local growing community, and this year the program is starting off with an even bigger inventory of donated seed packets!

The program also connects with the Plant A Row, Share A Row initiative, which encourages gardeners to grow a little extra and share fresh produce with neighbours, local food programs, and community food recovery efforts.

How the Kimberley Seed Library Works

The Kimberley Seed Library is designed to be simple and accessible for anyone interested in growing food.

• 🌱 Seed packets are FREE for all local residents

• 🌱 1–5 seed packets per household

• 🌱 Take the entire packet and plant what you take

• 🌱 No check-out process required — just visit the Kimberley Public Library during opening hours and choose seeds you’re interested in growing this season

While visiting the Kimberley Seed Library, gardeners may also want to explore the library’s gardening section. The library is currently featuring a helpful display of gardening books set up right beside the seed stand, offering additional resources for anyone looking to learn more about growing food locally (because it's not just seeds that can be picked up for free at out local libraries, there's also heaps of knowledge).

Whether you're planting a backyard garden, growing vegetables in containers, or experimenting with something new this year, the Kimberley Seed Library is here to help get things growing. And once those gardens begin producing, gardeners are encouraged to share the harvest with friends, neighbours, and local food programs whenever possible.

👉 More information about the Kimberley Seed Library and other local food growing initiatives (including information on the Cranbrook Seed Library located at the the Cranbrook Public Library), can be found over here: kimcranfood.net/grow

A Collaborative Community Effort

The Kimberley Seed Library is made possible through the collaborative efforts of many engaged partners, including:

• Kimberley Public Library

• KEGG – Kimberley Edible Gardens & Greenhouse

• Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook & the Wildsight Community Garden

• Top Crop Too

• United Way BC

• Kimberley Cranbrook Food Network members

A special thank-you also goes to Funk Haus Craft Lab, whose creative work last year helped decorate the seed display that continues to be used again this season (as well as local artist Prints Matt for his hand-stamped designs on our seed library info cards).

And not only is the Kimberley Seed Library back in the front room of the Kimberley Public Library for another year — stocked with free seed packets for anyone in the community looking to grow locally this season — but another great local partnership has returned as well. Thanks to a collaboration between the Kimberley Public Library and Top Crop Too, anyone who presents their Kimberley Public Library card at the Kimberley Top Crop Too location can receive 10% off growing supplies (including seeds, soils, fertilizers, and seed-starting materials). It’s a helpful boost for gardeners getting their gardens going this spring — and a great reminder to pick up a free Kimberley Public Library card if you don’t already have one.

Upcoming Seed Starting Workshops in Kimberley

For those looking for a little extra help getting their gardens started this year, two Seed Starting Workshops will be taking place at the Kimberley Public Library reading room in April — one on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 14th, and the other on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 21st (both workshops will take place from 3:30pm to 4:30pm).

These free workshops will offer hands-on guidance for starting seeds at home. — but spaces are limited, so participants are encouraged to register with the library in advance.

Similar Initiatives Happening in Cranbrook

The Cranbrook Public Library also hosts its own Cranbrook Seed Library (with support from the Cranbrook Public Produce Garden), which operates on a similar idea: making seeds accessible to local residents and encouraging people to grow, save, and share seeds within the community. The Cranbrook Seed Library follows a simple “Borrow, Grow, Share” approach — gardeners borrow seed packages with their Cranbrook Library card, grow them at home, and are encouraged to return saved seeds at the end of the season so others can benefit as well.

For those looking to build their gardening skills this spring, the Cranbrook Public Library is also hosting an upcoming Seed Starting for Beginners Workshop on March 21st from 1:00–3:00 pm. The workshop will provide hands-on guidance for starting plants from seed, with supplies and instruction provided. Registration is required as space is limited.

Together, initiatives like the Kimberley Seed Library & the Cranbrook Seed Library, local seed starting workshops, and the Plant A Row, Share A Row program help make it easier for people across our region to try growing food at home (and to share in the bounty with others in our communities). Whether you're planting your first few seeds or expanding an already thriving garden, these community efforts help strengthen local food knowledge, encourage food sharing, and grow our collective ability to produce and share more food locally.