Seeds hold the promise of the future. These tiny, living organisms contain an entire root, stem, and leaf curled dormant in a shell. Seeds are the fruit of successful plant sex, and the beginning of a developmental cycle.
In the seventeenth century, colonists imported seeds from England to survive on the foods they were accustomed to eating. One of the earliest expeditions to Plymouth Plantation, in 1628, includes a list of seeds brought over from England. When Africans were forced across the ocean to work on plantations, they sometimes brought along seeds so they could bring a part of their culture with them. Many braided seeds into their hair before crossing the Middle Passage.
For most of human history, seeds have been collectively shared and celebrated, a deep knowledge base whose enrichment and accessibility benefits all of humankind.
In keeping with the ancient tradition of collecting and sharing seeds, the Wimberley Library in partnership with Keep Wimberley Beautiful and the Native Plant Society of Texas is developing a Seed Library. The seed library will be a place where the community can check out ready-to-plant native and heirloom seeds. The program will use a pay-it-forward system. Seeds will be checked out with the expectation that gardeners will give back future seeds for the program to continue in the years ahead. Any seed collectors are welcome to donate.
So, look for the opening of the Wimberley Seed Library on November 8, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where there will be Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society of Texas available to provide information and answer any questions you may have. Remember, you reap what you sow. Or in this case, sow what you reap?
