The IndyPL Seed Library
Pick up free seeds to start your vegetable, herb, or flower garden free! The IndyPL 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: Cover Crops
- Date & Time: Wednesday, July 31, 3:00pm
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: Planting cover crops in your garden is a very easy way to improve your soil’s health. Join Kevin Allison to learn about soil health, cover crops, and receive free cover crop seeds as you think toward fall.
- Register Here
- Event: Cover Crops
- Date & Time: Thursday, August 01, 3:00pm
- Rescheduled Date & Time: Wednesday, July 31, 3:00pm
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: Planting cover crops in your garden is a very easy way to improve your soil’s health. Join Kevin Allison to learn about soil health, cover crops, and receive free cover crop seeds as you think toward fall.
- Register Here
- Event: Cover Crops
- Date & Time: Wednesday, August 07, 4:00pm
- Location: Franklin Road Branch
- Description: Planting cover crops in your garden is a very easy way to improve your soil’s health. Join Kevin Allison to learn about soil health, cover crops, and receive free cover crop seeds as you think toward fall.
- Register Here
- Event: West Perry Gardening Group
- Date & Time: Friday, August 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 seasonal discussions with a local Master Gardener, resources–like our Seed Library–and connections with other gardeners.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Plant Diseases & Pests
- Date & Time: Monday, August 19, 6:00pm
- Location: College Avenue Branch
- Description: Join Master Gardener Danielle Randles to learn about the things that annoy and bother your garden (and the things you don’t need to worry about).
- Register Here
- Event: Pollinator Gardens
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 07, 10:30am
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Join Master Gardener Danielle Randles to learn about pollinator gardens.
- 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 here.
- Gardens to Save the World & Attract Pollinators – IndyPL_KimberlyC
- Dig up a mystery – IndyPL_MicheleP
- Flower Gardening in Indiana – IndyPL_KathyH
- Gardening In An Apartment (Or Other Small Space!) – IndyPL_SarahM
- Garden Photography – IndyPL_KathyH
- Indoor Kitchen Gardens – IndyPL_KateC
- Gardening & Indiana Native Plants – IndyPL_AnikaW
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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