Alexandria’s Native and Heirloom Seed Library Network Helps Grow Local Habitats
By Katrina Napora, Natural Resources Manager, City of Alexandria
Alexandria, VA – In five different spots around the City of Alexandria, there are black boxes shaped like books. Tucked amongst books on pollinators and gardens in each box are envelopes of free native and heirloom seeds.
The Native and Heirloom Seed Library (NHSL) Network has seed giveaway locations at Charles E. Beatley Library, Kate Waller Barrett Library, Ellen Coolidge Burke Library, James M. Duncan Library, and Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center. These stations have bookmarks and brochures that teach about native and heirloom plants, as well as provide free seeds for participants to plant in their own gardens.
The NHSL Network launched in April of this year as a pilot program by the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA). The Natural Resources team within RPCA collaborated with the City of Alexandria’s incredible librarians and nature center staff to host these little seed libraries. Alexandria’s libraries and the nature center are already frequented by the community for easy access, and provide additional educational resources about gardening and nature. RPCA also was fortunate to receive input from the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, who have previous experience launching a seed library in Arlington at Glencarlyn Library.
But what are the “native” and “heirloom” plants that make up these seed libraries? Native plants are those that are naturally occurring in our region and habitat prior to European settlement. As a result, these native plants are adapted to the local soil and climate. Native plants support local wildlife, especially pollinators that rely on specific plants in order to complete their lifecycle.
By providing free native seeds to community members, there is direct support for increasing the number of native plants in the private spaces of Alexandria. The term has many names, such as “stretch our parks” or “backyard habitat” but the goal is the same: have more native plants in Alexandria.
Four native wildflower varieties were chosen for the seed libraries: Black-eyed Susan, Common Milkweed, Flat Top Goldenrod, and Eastern Purple Coneflower. These natives are not only providing ecosystem services, but are beautiful additions to gardens.
Heirloom plants, or rather heirloom varieties, have a more nebulous definition. In general, Heirloom designates varieties of garden plants that are at least 75 years old and open pollinated. Heirloom varieties are often unique compared to what you can find in grocery stores, and help to preserve the genetic diversity of various crops.
In celebration of America’s 250th, four heirloom varieties were chosen to celebrate and highlight America’s heritage: Fish Pepper, Cimmaron Romaine Lettuce, Early Summer Crookneck Squash, and Yellow Pear Cherry Tomato.
Heirloom varieties are a form of living history. For example, fish peppers were grown – and continue to be grown – at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon estate. Developed and preserved by African American communities, fish peppers were named for their use in sauces for fish and other seafood from the Chesapeake Bay. Growing these heirloom varieties allows community members to connect to the past through the act of growing, touching, and tasting the same foods as previous generations.
Check these seeds and educational materials out! The seed libraries will close for the season when all the seeds are distributed, which is expected sometime over the summer.
