Seed libraries in libraries, free open pollinated seeds and collections to support gardens and gardeners

1. Grow, Evolve, Lead!
Seed Libraries for
Social & Environmental Change
Holly M. Dean, MSLS
Assistant Professor
Student Success Librarian for Experiential Learning
University of Tennessee Knoxville

2. What is a Seed Library?
Seed libraries are community-based programs providing access
to free open-pollinated seeds (usually fruit, vegetables, grains,
and flowers), and related information resources.
1,000 seed libraries across the United States,
less than a dozen facilitated by academic institutions.

3. Purpose of Seed Libraries
➢ Provide access to seeds and information resources
➢ Opportunities for community events
➢ Gardening workshops
➢ Community engagement, belonging
➢ Seed preservation
➢ Local biodiversity

4. My Seed Library Background
Pellissippi State Community College, 2015-2017
➢ PSCC Seed Library:
collection > service-learning > events > course integration & expansion
University of Tennessee Knoxville, fall 2017-
➢ Developing a campus-wide experiential learning program
Food access & sustainability = program priorities

5. Food Access:
Local and Global Perspective

6. Global Food Needs
Predictions show that by 2050
there will be 9 billion people on Earth,
will live in
urban areas2/3

7. Food Insecurity & Food Access
Food insecurity is the lack of reliable access to sufficient
quantities of affordable, nutritious food, and is a prevalent
issue in higher education and a contributing factor in hindering
student success.
(USDA, and Dubick, et. al., 2016)
“Food Deserts”

8. Food Insecurity: US State Comparison

9. Food Insecurity In East TN
Second Harvest Food Bank

10. Food Insecurity in Higher Education
Global Food Initiative, University of California: 2015 student survey
42%experienced food insecurity
69%purchase cheapest food; lacking nutritional value
29%difficulty studying as a result of hunger
Reported lower grades or suspended study

11. Food Insecurity in Higher Education
UC System
42%
Rural
University
59%
UAA
31%
UH Manoa
21%
CUNY
39.2%
Australian
Universities
46-48%

12. JD Burnette’s Story “I graduated Highschool in '06. I lost my FASFA
scholarships in '08 because my parents didn't have
their income taxes done on time. I returned to school in
'09 on my own dime. I dropped out that same year, 3
weeks before school was over, 2 humanities electives
short of an associate's - because of poverty-related
issues. While we made sure there was money for
food, that cut into money for electricity and running
water. I serve as a VISTA to make sure this doesn't
happen to others. The HVC Garden and Seed Library are
incredible tools for students of PSCC so that they can
augment their budgets with homegrown food. The
Pantry is the critical piece to ensure delivery of produce
to individuals who can't grow their own.”

13. Seed libraries act as a catalyst for for change.

14. University of Tennessee Seed Library:
An Experiential Learning Program

15. Place for Seed Libraries in Higher Education
Goal: UTK Seed Library
To engage students in experiential cross-disciplinary learning, fostering
community through connections to peers, faculty, and community organizations,
increasing awareness and understanding of global issues-- such as food
access/insecurity and other social justice issues, biodiversity, food pathways, and
environmental sustainability; and bringing awarness to campus resources.
To empower students, staff, and faculty to lead healthy, sustainable lifestyles.

16. Mission and Vision
UT:
“move forward the frontiers of human knowledge
and enrich and elevate the citizens of the state of
Tennessee, the nation, and the world,”
UT Libraries: Indispensable Partner
UTK Seed Library: | Experiential Learning | Empowerment | Community | Food
Access | Healthy Lifestyles | Inspiration | Sustainability |

17. Outcomes
The UTK Seed Library will,
➢ Engage students & faculty through transdisciplinary experiential learning
➢ Facilitate conversations, deeper understanding of real-world issues
➢ Facilitate learning communities
➢ Create opportunities for student and faculty research
➢ Foster a sense of community
➢ Strengthen community ties-- University and the surrounding community
➢ Bring awareness of campus resources
➢ Strive to alleviate issues in food access

18. UTK Grow Lab: A Campus Urban Garden
➢ Course-specific
experiential learning
➢ Food for Smokey's
Pantry and volunteers
UTK Seed Library
➢ Provide seeds &
informational resources
➢ Facilitate workshops

19. Faculty Partnerships & Course Integration
Environmental Climatology, Soil Sciences
➢ Lettuce seeds from Seed Library
➢ Grow Lab
➢ Scientific equipment to monitor soil
temperatures
FYS, Gardening for Life
➢ Seed Sorting Party
GIS/GPS
➢ Study of Knoxville, identify food deserts &
potential outreach sites

20. Student Success & Retention
➢ Priority for UT, and many academic institutions across the country
➢ Engaged learning = student interest & determination
➢ Removing financial barriers
➢ Food insecurity can be an insurmountable barrier for students struggling to pay
fees, books, etc
○ Students living on campuses can experience barriers to fresh healthy foods

21. Student Success Beyond Financial Barriers
Seed Libraries can
● Expand social networks
● Increase sense of community spirit
● Facilitate student involvement in community
● Increase awareness of social & environmental campus resources
● Reduce stress, strengthen mental health, and building self-esteem
● Support learning and research through transdisciplinary partnerships

22. Opportunities for Social & Environmental Change
➢ Course-specific and independent projects & research
○ Container gardening with assisted living facilities
■ Mental health, social work, psychology
○ Indigenous trees and plants; Pollinators
■ Biology, agriculture, urban planning
○ Community/neighborhood/school gardens
■ Health sciences, humanities, education
➢ Mobile Seed Library: Kit to facilitate off-campus projects and research
Learning
Communities

23. Guided Information Resources
UT Seed Library Guide: https://libguides.utk.edu/seedlibrary

24. Seed Library Collection: So Much More Than Seeds!
Seed Stories: Capturing student, faculty, and community experiences
➢ Photos and journal reflections
➢ Audio recordings
➢ Interviews
Repository of Project and Research Results
➢ Lesson plans
➢ Data
➢ Written work
➢ Media documentation

25. Start-up Process
Mission & Vision Statement | Core Values | Service Community |
Programs & Services | Short & Long-term Goals | Action Plan |
Partners | Budget & Fundraising | Leadership |Sustainability
THINK
OUTSIDE
THE
BOX

26. Questions
We’re planting the idea,
you dig it?