Portage's First Seed Library – PortageOnline.com

The Portage Regional Library is involved in a sustainability project of sorts. Program Assistant McKayla Goddard explains that the funding came through the province's Conservation Climate Fund Project.

“We have a seed library of native plants, grasses and shrubs that are native to Manitoba. This is to help re-establish native plant life and support biodiversity. All of the seeds were purchased from Prairie Originals in Selkirk, Manitoba. We have this huge binder where you can see all the different plants we offer. You don't even have to be a library user to take seeds.”

She points out that you can get seed packets for the plants you want to plant, and they just ask that you take some seeds from the plants in the fall when you harvest or mow your lawn for the last time and bring them back.

“This will allow us to continue to run it in an environmentally friendly way. At the moment it is still quite small, but we hope that when it eventually gains momentum we will be able to offer a wider selection and also support initiatives like this.”

She points out that they have a wide selection of seed packets with information on the labels about what kind of sunlight the plant needs, how tall it will grow, and what kind of soil it needs.

“Many of them are also very easy to plant. You can just throw them out and leave them. For anyone who wants to have a pollinator-friendly lawn or just wants something beautiful but doesn't really require a lot of maintenance, these plants are really great too.”

Goddard adds that all plants should grow quite well in Portage.