[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by Kelt

This is a little bit off to the side of strictly recycling, but in the same spirit.

I've been spending a lot of time at my local library lately and discovered something they are doing that makes a lot of sense to me.

They have gotten into gardening. As in, lending small hand tools so that if someone wants to start some vegetables or something they can try it out without the expense or need acquire the basics. You just check them out with your library card like anything else. There is a neighboring town that has a full scale tool library for larger hand and power tools, and this is a nice complement to that.

They have also set up some of the old physical 'card' catalogue cabinets and are working with a local seed savers club so that folks can 'check out' seeds with nothing more than the promise to contribute in the future. They are right next to the gardening book section so that people with find them.

I really like seeing these grassroots community efforts being hosted in this centralized way. I think more people with find this resource here rather than in scattered little groups around town that a person would have to scout out to find.

FREE is always good.

Yes! This is an awesome service for the community. In the Portland area, a lot of our parks have sectioned off areas (repurposed earth) where people can grow their own vegetables, and The Oregon Food Bank offers classes for urban gardening. I love that!