The Seed Library
Pick up free seeds to start your vegetable, herb, or flower garden free! The Indianapolis Public Library Seed Library is available at all our locations during regular branch hours from late March through September. One packet of each type of seed per household. In addition to free seeds, check out resources and attend workshops about growing and using plants from your seeds. We provide materials and programs to make gardening in Indianapolis a doable goal for beginners.
Tune in online for a a Gardening Storytime – a great way to read up on beginning gardening projects for kids. For kids, gardening offers a way to get messy and watch the payoff for their hard work, in the form of growing veggies and beautiful flowers. You can say, “Hey! I grew the thing! Look at the thing that I grew! Isn’t it pretty?” Imagine the Instagram fun!
Programs
- Event: Seed Library Support
- Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2:00pm
- Location: Wayne Branch
- Description: Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.
- Register Here
- Event: Seed Library Support at Fort Ben
- Date & Time: Saturday, February 28, 10:00am
- Location: Fort Ben Branch
- Description: Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.
- Register Here
- Event: Seed Library Support at East 38th Street
- Date & Time: Monday, March 02, 2:00pm
- Location: East 38th Street Branch
- Description: Work with fellow volunteers to pack seeds for our 2026 Seed Library! Measure out bulk seeds into envelopes that community members can take home and grow.
- Register Here
- Event: Designing the Garden that Fits You
- Date & Time: Monday, March 02, 6:30pm
- Location: Fort Ben Branch
- Description: Create a gorgeous garden focused on your lifestyle and preferred maintenance level. Walk through the design process and learn tricks and tips to apply to the home garden. Join garden expert Amy Mullen to explore how you can create your perfect garden plan!
- Register Here
- Event: New Plants for the Landscape & Containers
- Date & Time: Tuesday, March 03, 6:00pm
- Location: Central Library
- Description: Join Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp to get a sneak peek at some of the new annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, edibles, and more that will soon be on the market. Also includes some of the best new plants from the last couple of years.
- Register Here
- Event: Comeback Kids (Perennials & Woodies for Containers and the Landscape)
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 04, 3:00pm
- Location: Beech Grove Branch
- Description: There are tons of great and underused perennials and small woody plants for the landscape that can be planted once to enjoy over and over. Learn about their attributes, uses, and care. Join Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp to learn about these plants that will bring you garden joy every year.
- Register Here
View on Demand
Learn on Demand Video: Seed Saving
Join Anika Williams from the Pike Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library as she harvests milkweed seeds on site and discusses the Seed Library available there.
Reading Recommendations from our Staff
Browse these featured staff book lists to help improve your gardening in Indianapolis skills. See all our gardening book lists.
Gardening in Indianapolis Resources
Follow Purdue Extension, one of the best ways to learn about gardening in Indiana. Browse their recommended online resources:
- Free Gardening Docs from Purdue Extension Purdue also has a fine YouTube channel with informative videos. As always, the Extension’s information is tailored specifically for Hoosier gardeners.
Gardening for Kids
- Gardening Storytime Online
- Plants for Kids Book List – Experiments and Activities for Backyard Botanists
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