~[421]~
university logo

University Library

Seed Library and Gardening Resources

This guide is to help those interested in gardening and seed saving find resources.

Summer Note

Hello! The Seed Library will be closed during the months of June and July to allow us time to prepare for the fall. In the interim, please reach out (tfordba@calstatela.edu) if you have seed recommendations for the Cal State LA Seed Library.

Cal State LA Seed Library

Cal State LA and local community members are welcome to take seeds from the collection. We hope that access to this collection will help foster plant biodiversity, food and climate justice, and food and seed sovereignty.

Purpose: The mission of the Cal State LA Seed Library is to provide free and easy access to vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to the Cal State LA Community and to support Cal State LA courses, research, and projects related to food justice, seed saving, community and urban gardening, and native and Indigenous plants. Seeds that are culturally relevant and adapted to the growing conditions of Los Angeles County and urban environments will be prioritized whenever possible.

Creators: Tiffanie Ford-Baxter, Kendall Faulkner, and Adele Dobry

Acknowledgment: Thank you to Eden Brothers for their seed donation!

Thank you to Carolyn Caffrey, who guided us in the proposal and development of our seed library. Her research guide for CSU Dominguez Hill Seed Library informed this research guide. 

Seed Scope

All seed varieties being distributed may not meet germination or purity standards prescribed by state seed laws. Patented seed varieties or seeds protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act will not be accepted or distributed without permission of the certificate holders.

How to Borrow Seeds

  1. Pick Your Seeds: Seeds are shelved in the cabinet alphabetically by plant name. We ask borrowers to try and take no more than six packets per season to allow other folks to borrow seeds.Our inventory will change throughout the year based and is dependent on donations from our Seed Companies and Seed Library Users.
  2. On the "Seed Library Log," add your name and Cal State LA email address. Write down which seeds you'll be taking home to grow. We'll use this log to track which seeds are most popular and re-stock!
  3. Grow your seeds. Feel free to share what you grow by tagging the Cal State LA Library.

Seed Saving Basics

We encourage you to consider collecting and donating seeds from your garden when your plants "go to seed." Seed donations help us keep the seed library filled. Please note we can not accept donations of patented seed varieties. If you would like to donate seeds to our seed library, please contact Tiffanie Ford-Baxter at tfordba@calstatela.edu.

If you're new to seed saving, check out one of our seed-saving books or visit these resources to learn more about how to start seed saving!

How to Donate or Return Seeds

  1. Complete the Cal State LA Seed Library Donation Form online or in-person at the Service Desk on the first floor of Library North.
  2. Drop off the seeds at the Service Desk.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Library
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8300
323-343-3988