A seed library lends or shares seed. The Port Colborne Public Library's Seed Library began in 2018 and provides quality heirloom seeds to the citizens of Port Colborne. We carry both vegetable and herb seeds. Some seeds have more than one variety.

Our seed collection

Browse our collection of open-pollinated seeds and take home the varieties that interest you. Grow your plants through the summer. In the fall, save some seeds for us and share them with your library so we can start the cycle all over again.

 Seeds in our collection
  • Bush bean - Jade (green)
  • Bush bean - Rocor (yellow)
  • Bush bean - Golden Wax (yellow)
  • Bush bean - Contender (green)
  • Pole bean - Blue Lake (green)
  • Pole bean - (Scarlet Runner)
  • Beets - (Detroit Dark Red)
  • Broccoli - (Green Sprouting)
  • Cabbage - (Copenhagen Market)
  • Carrots - (Danvers Half Long, Little Fingers)
  • Cauliflower - (Super Snowball)
  • Celery
  • Corn - (Golden Bantam)
  • Cucumber - (Straight Eight, Suyo Long)
  • Dill
  • Eggplant - (Black Beauty)
  • Fennel
  • Leeks - (Large Musselburg)
  • Lettuce (Bib, Leaf)
  • Marigolds
  • Milkweed
  • Okra - (Clemson Spineless)
  • Onion - (Ailsa Craig)
  • Oregano
  • Peas
  • Peppers - (Early California Wonder)
  • Pumpkins - (Connecticut Field, Sugar Pie)
  • Radishes - (French Breakfast)
  • Squash - Winter - (Table Queen Acorn)
  • Squash - Winter - (Kabocha)
  • Sunflower - (Large Grey Stripe)
  • Thyme
  • Tomatoes - (Beefsteak, Old German)
  • Turnips - (Purple Top White Globe)
  • Watermelon - (Sugarbaby)
  • Zucchini - (Black Beauty)

Returning seeds

You can return or donate heirloom/open pollinated seeds by following these easy steps:

  1. Collect seeds from your ripe heirloom vegetables.
  2. When dry, put the seeds into a container and label with the seed variety and year.
  3. Drop off your seeds to the library.

We will add them to the collection so that people can check them out next year.

Resources and activities

We have resources for planning your garden space, starting seeds, maximizing yields, harvesting your vegetables and saving seeds. Ask us for more information, or attend one of our programs or activities to learn some tips and tricks. See what's happening for upcoming events.