Yukon's garden culture sprouts new roots at seed library

A new resource has sprouted up in Whitehorse for people who like to garden and those who would like to learn. 

An old microfilm cabinet is now home to a seed collection in Yukon's Energy, Mines and Resources library on the third floor of the Elijah Smith building downtown.  

Anna Pearson, EMR librarian, says the aim of the seed library is to create a community and culture of gardeners in the Yukon. 

"It's going to be a great resource for local gardeners to be able to share their seeds," she says.  

People can "borrow" seeds from the library by taking a small amount and planting them in their gardens. It's then hoped that come fall, they'll harvest some of the seeds from their plants and "return" them to the library, thus making the project self-sustaining. 

By harvesting seeds from plants that grew the best, it encourages the propagation of stronger genes.  

"Over time we can maybe build up some generations of plants that have adapted to the northern growing conditions a bit and become a bit hardier," says Pearson.

She hopes this project will help to increase the number of gardeners in Yukon. 

"Backyard gardens are a small but a significant contribution to food security."

In addition to seeds, the library has gardening books and DVDs and Pearson says there are plans to offer seed saving workshops to teach people how to take seeds from their plants in the fall.

She wants the library to be a useful resource for beginners all the way through to green thumbs. 

It currently has 28 varieties of veggies, herbs and flowers and Pearson hopes it will grow through seed donations from local gardeners.

The library is open to the public Monday to Friday.