The SPROUT Seed Library is a community resource that provides open pollinated, pesticide and genetically engineered free seeds for members to 'take out,' plant, select plants that display desired qualities, grow those plants out for seed and return some seeds to the seed library for others to borrow. SPROUT is the Seed and Plant Resource OUTreach, we are a non-profit tax exempt organization. Our seed collection focuses on vegetables, flowers, herbs and medicinal plants. We strive to cultivate plants that are uniquely suited to the coastal influenced garden. As our membership grows so do our plant and seed resources, come and check us out.
The SPROUT Seed Library functions just like a regular library, instead of books we lend seeds to our members. The Library provides previously grown out seeds from the community and other interesting growers for members to borrow, grow out and save seeds from to return to the library. This process is one step in completing the cycle providing, a new generation of seeds uniquely acclimated to the coastal influence of West Marin. All of the seeds we have are grown without pesticides, genetic engineering and are peephole, meaning their offspring will produce seeds that will grow and be true to type.
The SPROUT seed library is available when ever their is a Seedy Saturday or other related and by appointments. The SPROUT Seed Library is located in West Marin on the big mesa in Bolinas. The SPROUT Seed Library is looking for a new home, we would love to be housed in a airstream trailer and will be initiating a campaign to acquire one soon. If you have any leads or would like to help make this happen please contact us, we would love to work with you.
Our goal is to create a reservoir of seeds that are uniquely acclimated to the West Marin coastal influence. There is a focus of costal influenced gardens yet regardless of where you will be gowning seeds you are welcome to become a member of SPROUT. Simple come to the Library and fill out a membership form, no fees are imposed, donations of $5 to $50 dollars are welcomed and tax detonable. We are an emerging seed library community resource that welcomes volunteers! No one is turned away for lack of funds.
Once or twice a month the SPROUT Seed Library hosts The Seedy Saturday Cafe. This is a time for folks to come get seeds, take a class, help us in the garden or just come and check us out. The heart of this project flows with the desire to nurture our community as the earth tenders we are; while providing a forum for sustainability, deep ecology,and community. This is the bed prepared every month for the Seedy Saturday Cafe that germinates new and wonderful events. Volunteers are always welcome, we have many projects for a varied array of skills, just give us a call.
the GMO essay
Join a fine gathering of like minded organizations in a Seed Saving Class at the Point Reyes Farmers Market the last Saturday of March the 28th beginning at 10am with the Seed Saving Class at the community room at the Bolinas Fire Station 100 Mesa Road. All are welcome.
The Seed Saving Class will be a user friendly orientation to the mysteries of saving plant seeds, harvesting and processing of seeds. The class is suitable for the beginner and green thumb types. The class will include:
The class typically runs just under two hours, depending on questions and processing rates. Bring seeds or stalks in with questions and participate in the hands on processing!
February Saturday 28~ Seedling & Garden Prep- come help get seedlings ready for grow-outs and SPROUT's fundraiser- the art & garden plant sale while perusing the seed library for your garden seed selection. Activities for all ages and levels of green thumbs! If you have some, bring gloves and favorite tool if you have~ we have a good supply also. begins 10am with stone soup lunch, until 4pm
March Saturday 28~ Seed Saving Class 10am- everything you need to know to get started saving seeds and more~ permaculture, biodynamic and hands-on style. location in Bolinas TBA- please send in RSVP to help with class size estimates. exchange for class is by donation- $10-30, donation of time is also greatly welcomed
In Addition to the Monthly Seedy Event, The Seed Library is Available For Member to Borrow Seeds, Typically the Last Saturday of the Month at the Seed Library's home 190 Birch Road at Elm Road, Bolinas, 94924. contact the seed librarian, Medía at sproutreach{at}gmail.com
Seed Swap/Locovore Dinner open at 4pm
Chautauqua Revue door at 7:30 show at 8pm
Bolinas Community Center, 14 Wharf Road
$15-150 (tax deductible sliding scale)
You are invited to our most vivacious, fecund and juicy fundraiser of the year. The day includes a Seed Swap, Locovore Dinner and the Chautauqua Revue~ a vaudevillian variety show boasting outstanding local talent. Beginning at 4pm a free community seed swap with locovore dinner & libations benefiting the SPROUT Seed Library. Plan on staying for the outstanding Chautauqua Revue beginning at 8pm. A joint collaboration between SPROUT & OAEC, the Chautauqua Revue, a two act vaudevillian variety show boasting outstanding local talent. A benefit for the non-profit SPROUT Seed Library, this evocative brew consists of storytelling, music, dance, comedy, clown, magic and poetry~ celebrating the fecundity of community, seeds and the return of the light. For more information follow the heading link or reach us at sproutreach[at]gmail.com
The SPROUT Seed Library is excited to offer a hands-on pollination class Sunday, August 24th at Gospel Flat Farm in Bolinas from 1-3:30 pm. This well-rounded class is suitable for beginner and experienced seed savers.
The 2.5-hour class will cover all you need to save the tastiest veggies from your garden, spotlighting the cucurbit family (squash, melons, cucumbers), which are usually cross-pollinated by insects. Beginning with an overview of plant reproduction~ how plants pollinate and make seeds, this class will focus on hands-on pollination techniques to ensure true-to-type seed production in plants that are readily cross-pollinated by wind or insects. Class size is small to facilitate best technique~ call or email to reserve your space for this once a year class.
Please download and bring these to our class
List of Easy Seed Saving
Descriptor List
SPROUTLine 415.821.0653
Happy Solstice, summer arrived big here in bolinas. Warm temperatures have graced our demonstration garden gently with promises of bountiful crops of both foods and seeds. In July, SPROUT will offer a hands-on pollination and seed saving class. The seedy librarian and and other volunteers have been busy in the garden planting squash, both winter and summer to provide you with a tactile experience on saving seeds from a favorite garden crop that is pollinated by insects which also puts it in the class of plants that cross-pollinate~ we will take the place of squash pollinators to ensure true-to-type/species squash in just one short afternoon. Plant intimacy and biomimicry~ now that will be a hot date...
Seed Saving Class and Swap at the Point Reyes Farmers Market~
Fall Introductory Seed Saving Class- Saturday 27th October, 11am
Fall Seed Swap - same day 9am to 1pm
SPROUTLine information line: 415.821.0653
leave a message with your contact information and the seed librarian will return your call
Join a fine gathering of like minded organizations in a Fall Seed Swap and Seed Saving Class at the Point Reyes Farmers Market the last Saturday of October the 27th beginning at 9am, with the Seed Saving Class at 11am. This event is hosted by Marin Organic in an effort to promote seed saving in West Marin. SPROUT will be among many organizations, gardeners and interested folks setting up offering free, open-pollenated edibles, medicinal's and flowers for interested people to borrow for growing. You do not have to be a gardener or for that matter bring seeds to participate. All are welcome.
The Seed Saving Class will be a user friendly orientation to the mysteries of saving plant seeds, harvesting and processing of seeds. The class is suitable for the beginner and green thumb types. The class will include:
The class typically runs between an hour to an hour and a half, depending on questions and processing rates. Bring seeds or stalks in with questions and participate in the hands on processing!
Fall 2007 Seed Swap Flyer
List of Easy Seed Saving
Descriptor List
Fall/Winter Vegetable Starts Offering and Open Library/Shed
Saturday September 1st 10:00am to 1pm
Warm summer greetings to you. Even though the Bay Area is still in for an Indian Summer, there is no way to escape the reality that summer is waning (pink ladies have been up for a couple of weeks) and fall is around the corner. As the days grow shorter we at the SPROUT Seed Library are planning for our fall/winter garden. The bounty of seeds in the SPROUT Library has supplied the starts for our demonstration garden and we would like to offer you some of those starts for your garden. On Saturday of Labor Day, September 1st, beginning at 10 am SPROUT will host and open shed for you to: check us out, borrow seeds, and take home vegetable starts from the library's seed collection (for a donation). If that was not enough enticement there will also be garage sales on the block as well.
partial list of vegetable starts offered: *speckled romaine lettuce *butter crunch lettuce *peas *diakons *radicchio *spinach *broccoli *beets *cauliflower *multi-color swiss chard *bok choi
Friday April 6th 10:30am to 1pm
The West Marin garden club will be touring the SPROUT Seed Library beginning at 10:30 am. There will be a orientation to the Seed Library, followed by the garden club sponsored cuttings swap. This is an open event with opportunities to join either or both groups. The library will be open until 1pm for those interested in checking out seeds for their summer gardens.
**very exciting bulletin**
SPROUT is proud to offer again this year GMO free Zapotista corn as part of the Schools for Chiapas program. These particular seeds were grown out in West Marin, Inverness, which is a great step toward the coastal acclimatizing process. We are hopeful for a sunny summer to nurture theses lovely seeds into healthy, vibrant GMO free corn. We have seeds available, along with information about the Zapotista efforts to maintain genetic sovereignty by disseminating their corn seeds throughout the world. This corn is part of our regular library availed to all members.
ART and GARDEN April 27, 28, and 29th
The SPROUT Seed Library will be participating in this years extravaganza the last weekend in April. A fabulous event showcasing the dynamic Art and Garden talent in West Marin. We will have seedlings for sale along with seeds for 'check out' throughout the weekend. See you there!
as always we could use a hand or two, if you are interested please call , we would love to hear from you- SPROUTLine (415) 821.0653
Assembly member Jared Huffman (6th AD) has introduced AB 541, this is a positive step toward corporations taking responsibility for the genetic mutations they unleash in the environment. There have been many reported damages through open pollination of GMO crops contaminating neighboring farms, killing unintended insects including beneficial pollinators and to date there is no accountability on the part of the offending genetically modified crops. In fact farmers have been sued and made liable for possessing patented seeds- even if this occurred by cross-pollination! Please take a minute and check out the link to Pesticide Action Network North America, an informative and political action-made-easy format. There is a sample letter which you can edit addressed to Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Well worth the few minutes out of your day to let your elected representatives and committee leaders know you care and are paying attention!
good new this bill passed, mostly still more to do before it becomes law follow the link for more information. more on AB541
For March 2007
We will be celebrating the Spring Equinox with two open days this Friday and Saturday
Friday March 23rd 10am-1pm and Saturday March 24th 10am-1pm
With a favorable moon phase the SPROUT Seed Library will be open beginning at 10am both days. Last months Seedy Cafe and seed saving class were in great spirits despite the rainy weather. Look for our summer seed saving class near the Summer Solstice (mid June). Whether you have been thinking about getting a modest garden or cultivating the back forty this season come on by and pick up some great seeds this weekend. Even if you do not have much space, it is amazing what can be gown in half a wine barrel. Call (415) 821-0653 for more information and leave your contact information if you have questions.
For February 2007
SPROUT will kick of the inaugural Seedy Saturdays on two Saturday in February the 17th and 24th.
Saturday 17th- 10am - 1pm Come get your seeds for spring planting. There will be a SPROUT seed station set up for you to choose your seeds and plant them in 6-pack right then and there. This is also a great time to plant, the moon will be favorable for a while. We will also have lots of projects in the garden to help get the beds ready for the SPROUT demonstration garden- no experience necessary!
Saturday 24th 10am-2pm The SPROUT seed station will be a buzzing with excited gardeners gathering seeds. Every thing you wanted to know about the ABC's of seeds saving class. This class is beginner friendly and will outline what you need to know to get started saving seeds. Call the SPROUT line for sign-up so we know how many to expect, 415 821.0653 (leave your contact information and the seed librarian will get back to you).
The November 4th Friday Seedy Cafe will be the day after Thanksgiving, November 24 beginning at 6pm at the old garage, 6 Wharf Road Downtown Bolinas (same time and place). The chill space will be buzzing with the music of Jeff Manson who is giving of his time as a benefit for the SPROUT Seed Library. As always the 4th Friday Seedy Cafe is a free event supported by your generous donations. This month's snazzy libations of organic herbal chai has been donated by Majet's Botanicals and your seedy librarian promises to make some tasty sweets too. All this love will be Friday the 24th at the home of the SPROUT Seed Library, 6 Wharf Road, Bolinas.
In September we unveiled the new milled cypress and reclaimed redwood shelving that houses the Seed Library, built with donated labor by Todd Bee son. On the October 27th 4th Friday Seedy Cafe we feature a papermaking workshop given by Jacqueline Mallegni which she did as a benefit for the Seed Library. Followed by the Seedy Cafe and more papermaking in the evening at 7pm. We will take a seasonal break for the December Seedy Cafe, will be supporting local craft artists with a wonderful marketplace that weekend. Listen to KWMR for announcements and check the Bolinas Hearsay News for 4th Friday Seedy Cafe Events.
If you have any question or are interested in supporting SPROUT, call our SPROUT line voice mail at 415.821.0635
copyright 2006, 2007
updated 3I07