The Botany Enthusiasts Club’s new sustainability initiative, the UBC Community Seed Library, had a successful launch this year thanks to West Coast Seeds and AMS Sustainability.
A seed library is a collection of seeds which can be taken out and grown. At the end of the growing season, we hope people collect their seeds and return it to the library in order to increase the longevity of the project. Seed libraries are common in communities so the club decided to start one for the UBC community in order to promote gardening and sustainability across campus.
Many of our seeds were picked specifically based on whether they can be grown in containers (since many students live on campus), if they are heirlooms (so seeds can be saved), and if they attract pollinators and other beneficial insects .
The seed library has also promoted collaboration between gardeners on campus. In February, many gardeners from the Botany Enthusiasts Club and the Rooftop Garden Club helped plant the Geography Student Association’s GeoGarden using seeds from the library. Since then, the barren raised beds have turned into succulent and lush gardens.
The Botany Enthusiasts Club’s Seed Library will encourage more UBC students to explore their interests in gardening!
The seed library has many benefits:
1. Many of our seeds can attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Certain beneficial insects are predatory and hunt pests, which can help reduce the use of pesticides.
2. Cover crops can be grown and used as green manure, which are a natural replacement for synthetic fertilizers and helps create a thriving soil.
3. Growing your own food saves money and is a great opportunity to learn a new skill.
4. Helps prevent soil erosion.
We would like to thank West Coast Seeds for their generous donation of seeds and AMS Sustainability for their funding and support. We hope to get more people interested in gardening!
If you would like to learn more about gardening, botany, or sustainability, find our club at the following location:
Club room: Biological Science building room 3021 (pick up a free copy of the West Coast Seeds grow guide!)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ubcbotanyclub
Website: http://bec.sites.olt.ubc.ca/