My project was aimed to share/celebrate growing plants & seeds within my local community.
I used a couple Facebook community groups to generate awareness for my seed & plant library. Initially to see if I could find free cabinets/supplies to make the library itself I posted in the Port Coquitlam Connection group and it garnered many eyes. Lots of interest in sharing plants and seeds.
I was gifted a cabinet that I painted, made a sign that would be visible from far and placed the cabinet in front of my home beside the sidewalk.
The library offered a variety of seeds and once I posted in the FB community group others came by to exchange their seeds. It was so fun to see & have access other varieties of vegetable seeds.
I also bought seeds and soil to offer planted and grown vegetables. Some plants I offered at infancy stage where they could be transferred into a garden and others I offered at a long term pot stage where it just needed to be cared for & watered.
My hope was also to solve some issues of (healthy) food access for my neighbours nearby. It was fun to see plants leave the library and other new plants get left in for others.
There were two major challenges I encountered with this project:
- I was due to have my third baby in August. It was a concern moreso for my energy but I made sure to stock the library weekly for June & July. By the time August came it was way too hot to store anything in it as the sun/heat killed the plants. I just left seeds for exchange in a container.
- The concern of the Japanese Beetle and transferring of potted soil outside the local area. After doing my research I didn’t feel as affected as all the soil I used was new & purchased in bags from garden centres but for those exchanging plants I made sure to put up signs. And made sure to tell everyone to keep our plants within our Port Coquitlam community.
I updated my own public & community group social media with tips on growing. Sometimes when I filled up the library I would encounter a neighbor walk by and pick up a plant. It was fun to meet others and share all our garden tips with each other.
Overall the project is ongoing and will hibernate for the winter but I plan to continue to provide the community with seeds & veg plants.
