Seed Library

1. Let your beans fully mature (about 4 or 5 weeks past eating time). They will eventually become dry and hard.
2. Seeds are ready to pick when the beans rattle inside their pods.
3. Remove the bean pods from the plant, open them up and remove the seeds.
4. Place the seeds on a plate or dry surface for another day to ensure the beans are completely dry.
5. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Leave the cucumber of the vine until it has ripened past the eating stage. It will turn yellow, and enlarge and its vine will die.
2. Remove the cucumber from vine put in a dry place until it has softened.
3. Slice the cucumber lengthwise and scoop the seeds into a large bowl.
4. Add water until seeds float.
5. Cover and allow to ferment for 5 days.
6. Once there is a layer of scum on the surface or the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the bowl, remove the scum and pulp from top of the liquid and pour the remaining liquid through a sieve in order to separate the seeds.
7. Rinse the seeds under running water and remove the remaining pulp.
8. Spread the seeds in a single layer onto a plate (not a paper towel).
9. Set in a warm dry place until the seeds are completely dry, about 3 weeks or until the seeds snap in half when bent.
10. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Let herbs flower and leave them in your garden until the flower heads start to dry out.
2. Snip flower heads off and allow them to completely dry in a warm dry place.
3. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Leave your lettuce plant in the garden until it has sent up flower stalks. The seeds found in the flowers will then begin to ripen.
2. Collect the seeds once the flower stalks are dry-ish and producing dandelion-like fluff.
3. Shak the flower stalk over a paper bag.
4. Gently remove the fluff from the seeds.
5. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Slice open the matured fruit.
2. Use a spoon to scoop the pulp and seeds into a strainer.
3. Rinse and remove all pulp under running water.
4. Spread seeds on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry completely.
5. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Wait until your sunflowers have died and the backs of the blooms are brown. The seeds should be plump and loose.
2. Cut the flower head off 30cm down the stalk. Place this in a large container. Note: If you are worried about birds eating the seeds before they are ready to harvest, tie a paper bag over the blooms while they are still in the garden or you can cut the flower off before it is ready and hang it indoors until it is completely dry.
3. Once the flower is completely dry, run your hands firmly over the seeds while holding the flower over a bucket or container to catch the seeds.
4. Rinse the seeds in a sieve and discard debris.
5. Using a shallow cardboard box or baking tray with newspaper, spread the seeds in a single layer and leave them to dry overnight.
6. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

1. Slice a ripe tomato in half and scoop the pulp and seeds into a clean bowl.
2. Add enough water so the seeds float.
3. Cover the bowl and place in a warm spot to ferment for 2 to 4 days. The fermenting odour is normal.
4. Once there is a layer of scum on the surface or the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the bowl, remove the scum and pulp from top of the liquid and pour the remaining liquid through a sieve in order to separate the seeds.
5. Rinse the seeds under running water and remove the remaining pulp.
6. Spread out the seeds on paper or a plate (do not use paper towels as they will retain moisture and encourage seed sprouting).
7. Set in a warm dry spot and let seeds completely dry.
8. Place seeds in an envelope with the the name of the plant and the date you harvested the seeds and drop them off at any library branch.

If you want to donate seeds that are not listed here and are unsure how to collect them contact your local library at 289-674-0400. We will be happy to look for specific instructions on how to harvest your seeds.