The Nieder-Roden public library is once again opening its seed library this year in collaboration with the Verein zur Erhaltung der Nutzpflanzenvielfalt e.V. (Association for the Conservation of Crop Diversity). From Monday, 9 February, seeds can be "borrowed". Even if nature and the garden are still largely in hibernation, amateur gardeners are already looking forward to the start of the gardening season and are busy with initial preparations. By the time the first warm rays of sunshine arrive, the beds and borders will be full of life again. How does the seed library work? You can borrow up to 4 sachets of single-variety seeds. Once sown and cared for according to instructions, the vegetables can finally be harvested. Then it's time to collect the seeds, dry them and fill them into the sachets provided. A few portions of the newly collected seeds will then be returned to the library to form the basis of next year's seed library. Whether tomatoes, beans, peas or lettuce, the most delicious vegetables and fruit grow in the home garden or in balcony tubs throughout the summer. Anyone looking for help or inspiration for their garden and balcony will find numerous guides in the city libraries. Well informed and with new ideas, the gardening season can begin. Four decades ago, the United Nations reported on the massive loss of diversity in crop varieties. Gene databases ensure the survival of old varieties, but it is only through regular cultivation that they remain alive and in our consciousness. More and more people are getting involved in sustainability, diversity and species protection and so the idea of the seed library is spreading. Gardening enthusiasts can actively contribute to species conservation, environmental and climate protection by using seed-resistant, GMO-free varieties. If you have any questions, the library team can be contacted at buecherei@rodgau.de or by telephone on 693-1322.
