Seed libraries, where anyone can swap seeds for free, are beginning to take root in Belgium. First appearing in the United States around 20 years ago, the concept works very much like a typical book library and is now also being copied on this side of the ocean.
Proponents say that it’s a logical step to have these seed banks, which are made available to citizens free of charge, in public libraries. While knowledge is shared in a regular library, the secrets and wonders of nature are made available in the seed version – which can have any type of seed, from flowers, vegetables and fruits to medicinal plants and trees.
Additionally, people can learn how to reproduce and harvest different kinds of plants and become more educated about healthy eating while preserving biodiversity and creating a connection between people in their neighbourhood.
Additionally, seed libraries also promote openness, meetings and exchanges between individuals of different ages and backgrounds, supporters of the concept say.
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To date, there are about a hundred seed libraries scattered throughout Wallonia and Brussels. Brussels Environment distributes more than 15,000 seed kits every year, and the new seed libraries, as well as versions where grown plants can also be adopted, are gaining in popularity.
Moreover, the concept of the "mobile seed library" is also taking off in Belgium, allowing those in remote places or with limited mobility to barter seeds of wildflowers and vegetables.
The result is more and more people are nurturing their own biodiverse corners of the cities and across the countryside.
