Seed Library 2026

The Rochester Public Library Seed Library officially kicks off for 2026 on Saturday, February 28th. Explore this list of gardening books and learn how to plan and grow your own food, and then begin your own seed saving & sharing efforts.

Updated January 15, 2026
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Cattail moonshine & milkweed medicine : the curious stories of 43 amazing North American native plants
Hartung, Tammi
Ebook
International Herb Association's  2017 Thomas DeBaggio Book Award Winner 2016 Silver Nautilus Book Award Winner History, literature, and botany meet in this charming tour of how humans have relied on plants to nourish, shelter, heal, clothe, and even...
Building soil : a down-to-earth approach : natural solutions for better gardens and yards
Murphy, Elizabeth
Ebook
A down-to-earth, complete manual for achieving great gardening results with your own rich, organic soil. All the secrets to rich, sustainable soil are revealed to you. You'll be amazed how easy it is to improve your garden or yard when you begin at ground level. Even...
All new square foot gardening : the world's most popular growing method to harvest more food from less space
Paper Book
This fully revised and updated 4th edition of All New! Square Foot Gardening brings the world's favorite gardening method to a whole new generation of gardeners.
The wildlife-friendly vegetable gardener : how to grow food in harmony with nature
Hartung, Tammi
Paper Book
Promoting a holistic ecological view, Tammi Hartung encourages you to invite wildlife into your garden. You'll be amazed at how a variety of natural pollinators, pest predators, and soil enrichers can promote vibrant and healthy vegetables. Discover how a slug problem disappears once you've...
The manual of seed saving : harvesting, storing, and sowing techniques for vegetables, herbs, and fruits
Heistinger, Andrea.
Ebook
"Makes it easy to find information in a snap, on most any edible you want to grow." --Kylee Baumle, Horticulture Growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs from seed has many benefits for both the gardener and the planet. Why save seeds when you can buy them so...
Start a community food garden : the essential handbook
Joy, LaManda.
Ebook
Recommended by the American Community Gardening Association Community gardening enhances the fabric of towns and cities through social interactions and accessibility to fresh food, creating an enormously positive effect in the lives of everyone it touches. LaManda Joy, the...
How to garden indoors & grow your own food year round : ultimate guide to vertical, container, and hydroponic gardening
Roman, Kim
Ebook
Gardening for everyone : growing vegetables, herbs, and more at home
Watkins, Julia
Ebook
A guide to creating and growing a backyard garden simply and sustainably--from planning to planting to harvest, with profiles of essential vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative projects Growing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or windowsill!)...
Heirloom vegetable gardening : a master gardener's guide to planting, seed saving, and cultural history
Weaver, William Woys
Paper Book
This book is the culmination of some thirty years of firsthand knowledge of growing, tasting, and cooking with heirloom vegetables. A staunch supporter of organic gardening techniques, Will Weaver has grown every one of the featured 280 varieties of vegetables, and he walks the novice gardener...
Mini farming : self sufficiency on a 1/4 acre
Markham, Brett L.
Paper Book
Go back to basics--compost, raising chickens, water and irrigation, dealing with pests, and much more--with this unique, full color bestseller (over 400,000 sold). Mini Farming describes a holistic approach to small-area farming that will show you how to produce 85 percent...
Rodale's basic organic gardening : a beginner's guide to starting a healthy garden
Martin, Deborah L.
Ebook
When the inspiration hits to start an organic garden, many novices could benefit from a guidebook that speaks directly to their enthusiasm, their goals, and, of course, their need for solid information that speaks a newbie's language--from the most trusted source for organic gardening methods.<...
Herb gardening from the ground up : everything you need to know about growing your favorite herbs
Gilbertie, Sal
Ebook
Garden-fresh herbs impart flavor and fragrance that dried, packaged products simply can't. Now, anyone with access to a few square yards of soil (or even a sunny patio or windowsill) can enjoy the punch and pungency that only come from fresh herbs, hand-picked from the garden. Herb Gardening...
The weekend homesteader : a twelve-month guide to self-sufficiency
Hess, Anna
Paper Book
Whether you want to live off the grid in a fully self-sufficient way, or just turn your backyard into your own small homestead, here is advice on backyard chicken care, how to plant a no-till garden that heals the soil, composting, canning, and much more. The Weekend...
Prairie up : an introduction to natural garden design
Vogt, Benjamin
Paper Book
Connecting to nature with native plants Landscaping with native plants has encouraged gardeners from the Midwest and beyond to embark on a profound scientific, ecological, and emotional partnership with nature. Benjamin Vogt shares his expertise with prairie plants in a richly photographed...

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