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: Basics of Hydroponics
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 03, 1:00pm
- Location: Glendale Branch
- Description: Grow your own lettuce, inside, without soil! With an investment in lights and some supplies your farm to table distance can be measured in feet, not miles! Hydroponics is a great way to have some fresh produce and learn more about gardening when you can’t grow it outside.
- Register Here
- Event: Gardening for the Exhausted
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 10, 10:00am
- Location: Wayne Branch
- Description: Somewhere along the way, gardening became another exhausting performance review. Join beloved garden expert Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp to look at the tricks that can make gardening less exhausting and more enjoyable.
- Register Here
- Event: Growing Flower Bulbs Indoors
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 10, 10:30am
- Location: College Avenue Branch
- Description: Have you ever seen those flower bulbs in containers at the store and wished you could grow your own? Join Amy Mullen to learn how to “force bulbs”. Learn hands-on at this workshop! You’ll leave with your own bulbs to grow at home – and plans (and time) to create holiday gifts for everyone!
- Register Here
- Event: Teen Gardening 101
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 10, 2:00pm
- Rescheduled Date & Time: Saturday, December 05, 10:30pm
- Location: Spades Park Branch
- Description: Learn easy gardening basics like planting, soil, and plant care, plus simple hacks for creating your own garden at home, whether you’ve got a backyard, balcony, or just a sunny windowsill.
- Register Here
- Event: Natural Dyes from the Garden
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 13, 5:30pm
- Location: Haughville Branch
- Description: Discover the colorful history of natural dyes. You’ll learn how to use flowers, leaves, roots, and fruits to dye cotton, wool, silk, and more!
- Register Here
- Event: Gardening Group at West Perry
- Date & Time: Friday, October 16, 10:15am
- Location: West Perry Branch
- Description: Gardens are essentially a place of sharing and gardeners know that we learn a lot from each other–whether you’re just starting or experienced. Sessions will feature a time of introductions & Q&A, a seasonal topic discussed, resources–like our Seed Library–and connections with other gardeners.
- 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.