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 at Wayne
- Date & Time: Wednesday, August 05, 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: Native Garden Vision Boards & Plans
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 08, 11:00am
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: Planning your native plants is a great pre-fall task. In this workshop you will have the opportunity to create your native plant vision board while planning what you want to have. Make plans, get personalized advice, and leave with a vision board (and some native seeds to sow in the fall).
- Register Here
- Event: Cool Weather Crops & Cover Crops
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 08, 1:00pm
- Location: Glendale Branch
- Description: Get as much out of the growing season as possible. Fall is just around the corner and there are still things to do in the garden. We’ll discuss using cover crops and planning for crop rotation. This is a time to celebrate your victories and yes, plant one last crop!
- Register Here
- Event: Seed Library Support at Wayne
- Date & Time: Wednesday, August 12, 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: Saving Seeds and Seed Swap
- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 18, 6:00pm
- Location: Pike Branch
- Description: Learn how to save and store your seeds. You can donate your extra seeds to the Library’s Seed Library. We will also have a seed swap so bring anything you like to trade.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Seed Library Support at Wayne
- Date & Time: Wednesday, August 19, 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
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
Email Newsletter
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Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch, and listen on a PC, tablet, or phone.