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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The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs
Gough, Robert E.
Paper Book
Enjoy your favorite varieties of garden plants year after year with this comprehensive guide to gathering, preparing, and planting seeds.     Authors Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough provide simple instructions that clearly explain the whole process, from...
Saving seeds : a home gardener's guide to preserving plant biodiversity
Jason, Dan
Paper Book
Much of our food comes from seeds. But where do our seeds come from? And where are they going? For much of human history, farmers saved their own seed stocks to ensure a good harvest from year to year. In the mid-twentieth century, governments became involved in seed saving, creating massive seed...
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.
Grow food anywhere : how to plant the right crops in the right place and help your garden thrive
Chamberlain, Lucy
Paper Book
Each area of a garden offers a different environment for plants, with differing levels of sun, soil, moisture, and more. In this book, expert gardener and vegetable grower Lucy Chamberlain breaks down the environments you may find in your garden into seven zones, from sunny and...
Essential guide to organic vegetable gardening : techniques and know-how for planning, planting, and tending a home vegetable garden organically
American Horticultural Society
Paper Book
The American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening is a comprehensive yet beginner-friendly handbook for growing edible gardens from the foremost authority in American gardening.
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...
Start a community food garden : the essential handbook
Joy, LaManda.
Paper Book
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....
Gardening for everyone : growing vegetables, herbs, and more at home
Watkins, Julia
Paper Book
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!)...
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...
Survival gardening : grow your own emergency food supply from seed to root cellar
Coffman, Sam
Paper Book
Learn how to grow your own food supply and be prepared just in case of an emergency with this essential guide by a survival skills expert. Become more resilient in the face of global crises and prepare yourself for supply chain disruptions by learning to grow your...
The Vertical Veg guide to container gardening : how to grow an abundance of herbs, vegetables and fruit in small spaces
Ridsdill Smith, Mark
Paper Book
Don't be confined by the space you have--grow all the food you want with this fruit and vegetable container gardening guide from the creator of "Vertical Veg!" If you long to grow your own tomatoes, zucchini, or strawberries, but thought you didn't have enough space, Mark Ridsdill...

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