As a physical, mental and often social activity that reduces stress, gardening is not just a rewarding hobby but a beneficial one. Whether you’re interested in growing flowers for their beauty or vegetables for nourishment, TCCL can help you cultivate a garden that fits your vision and space, from indoor pots to outdoor planters.
Start with free seeds through the Seed Library. The Seed Library is a project of TCCL’s Green Team, which champions environmentally friendly programs and activities across the library system. Launched in 2014 with just two locations, the Seed Library was inspired by customer suggestions and a desire to break down barriers to gardening.
“The Seed Library opens up access to gardening, to healthy food, to heirlooms and the stories they tell, and to the diverse foodways in our community,” said Johanna Burton, Central Library associate and founder of the Seed Library.
Burton’s own interest in seed saving began when she accidentally let carrots go to seed. This sparked her enthusiasm for the concept of a seed-sharing program and led to the Seed Library’s creation. Today, it continues to flourish through nine Seed Library locations that engage the community in gardening and seed-saving practices.
With your TCCL card, you can check out up to 15 packets of seeds. Save seeds from the best plants and return them to the library for others. To find available seeds, use the online catalog and search for “seed library” or browse what’s available at our Seed Library locations, which include the Bixby, Central, Collinsville, Glenpool, Hardesty Regional, Martin Regional, Nathan Hale, Suburban Acres and Zarrow Regional libraries. Learn more at www.tulsalibrary.org/seed-library.
Acquiring seeds might be the first step, but now you need to plant your seeds and help them grow. If you’re not sure where to begin, start here:
Check out Universal Class for self-paced courses such as Intro to Gardening, All About Herbs and Vegetable Gardening 101. Access these free video lessons with your TCCL card at www.tulsalibrary.org/online-learning.
Browse magazines such as Amateur Gardening, Gardens Illustrated, BBC Gardeners’ World, Garden News and more by exploring the Home & Garden category in OverDrive’s magazine collection, available at tulsa.overdrive.com or through Libby. Use Libby online at www.libbyapp.com or download the app from your mobile device’s app store.
Learn even more with these digital resources:
Explore digital content like articles and e-books in the Home Improvement Source and the Hobbies & Crafts Source. Both resources offer information on topics such as container gardening, growing vegetables and herbs, attracting butterflies and more.
Search for “horticulture and gardening” in eLibrary to browse a research topic that offers resources on gardening methods and practices, as well as links to related topics like vegetables, hydroponics, flowers and more.
Try TopicSearch for even more gardening content, from articles about the magic of homegrown tomatoes to videos about vertical gardening.
