Powering Community Gardens Across the US

In Orange County, North Carolina, a volunteer-powered Community Seed Library is transforming access to fresh food and gardening knowledge. Since 2021, they have distributed over 52,000 seed packets through over 150 events and activities, putting quality seeds into the hands of home gardeners, youth programs, and food pantries across the region. Behind every packet is a family growing their own food, a child learning where vegetables come from, and neighbors strengthening nourishment, learning, and connection through community gardens. 

The Orange County Extension Master Gardeners run this seed library with a simple but powerful mission: provide seeds and education to anyone who wants to grow. Volunteers host events and hands-on workshops, partner with local food pantries and youth organizations, and support gardeners at every level of experience — from someone planting their first container of tomatoes to a community garden coordinator expanding a neighborhood plot.

Seed Programs International (SPI) has been proud to support this work by donating high-quality vegetable and flower seeds to keep the library stocked season after season. Over the last few years, we have donated over 6,900 packets of seed to their program. This spring, SPI provided 1,400 packets of vegetable and flower seeds to ensure the library was well stocked ahead of planting season. These seeds support a wide range of activities, including weekly and monthly farmers markets, Dig Deeper education programs, outreach to low-income recipients, Meals on Wheels support for elderly or disabled community members, school gardening programs, and community events such as PlantFest, Lavender Festival, and the Hillsborough Garden Club Home Tour. Through these programs, the provided seeds are expanding access to fresh food while equipping individuals and families with the knowledge and confidence to plant and grow their own.

We are proud to support partners like the Orange County Master Gardeners, and deeply grateful to donors like you who make it possible. Every seed carries the potential for nourishment, learning, and connection. Thank you for being part of what grows next.