Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library

Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library is a free urban seed project committed to increasing the capacity of our community to feed itself wholesome food by offering seeds and education. The Seed Library celebrates biodiversity through the time-honored tradition of seed saving, nurtures locally-adapted plant varieties, and fosters community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing. We celebrate our human diversity through outreach and inclusion.

Guiding Principle:  To create a culture of sharing, abundance and community involvement.

Goal 1              Richmond Grows will create a physical space where the public can “borrow” seeds for free.

            Performance Targets:
            A.            Richmond Grows will contact 20 seed companies to request open pollinated and heirloom seed donations
            B.             Richmond Grows will create an organizational system for filing and locating seeds in the collection.
            C.             Richmond Grows will acquire the necessary furniture to house the seed collection.
            D.            Richmond Grows will secure a free location in a space that is open to the general public.

Goal 2             Richmond Grows will create a website to educate and inform the community of events and resources that are relevant to our mission.

            Performance Targets:
             A.            Richmond Grows’ website will include our mission statement, contact information and hours of operation.
             B.             Richmond Grows’ website will include orientation information and other community events that are aligned with our mission.
             C.             Richmond Grows’ website will have resources on seed saving and instructions on how to use the library.


Goal 3          Richmond Grows will increase access to wholesome, locally grown food.

            Performance Targets:
            A.            Richmond Grows will have a minimum of 2 English-language orientations per month from June –October.
            B.             Richmond Grows will have a minimum of 1 Spanish-language orientation per month from June-October.
            C.             Richmond Grows will create a “How the Library is Organized” brochure, with translations in Spanish, Mandarin, Laotian and Mien.
            D.            Richmond Grows will contact all Neighborhood Councils and community centers in Richmond to inform them of the service.


Goal 4             Richmond Grows will provide resources on gardening.

            Performance Targets:
           A.            Richmond Grows will post local gardening classes on our website.
           B.             Richmond Grows will host a minimum of 1 class on how to garden.
           C.             Richmond Grows will advise the Richmond Public Library of gardening books that would be helpful to have in their collection.
           D.            Richmond Grows will create a resource sheet of relevant books and videos currently in the Richmond Public Library collection.
           E.             Richmond Grows will include the resource sheet of Richmond Public Library books on their website.


Goal 5            Richmond Grows will provide education on seed saving.

            Performance Targets:
             A.            Richmond Grows will create “How to Save Seeds” brochure, with translations into Spanish, Mandarin, Laotian and Mien.
            B.             Richmond Grows will create a minimum of 4 videos on basic seed saving techniques.
            C.             Richmond Grows will offer a class on basic seed saving.


Goal 6            Richmond Grows will engage the community in food-growing and seed-saving activities.

            Performance Targets:
            A.            Richmond Grows will engage a minimum of 5 people as Library facilitators to provide orientations.
           B.             Richmond Grows will engage a minimum of 20 people volunteering with the library in some capacity.


Goal 7         Richmond Grows will seek and encourage diversity in our program.

            Performance Targets:
            A.            Richmond Grows will translate orientation, brochure and outreach materials into Spanish.
            B.             Richmond Grows will reach out to different sectors of our diverse community.
            C.             Richmond Grows facilitators will reflect the diversity of our population.


Goal 8             Richmond Grows will increase our communities' awareness and knowledge of seed saving

            Performance Targets:
               A.            Richmond Grows will create a How to Save Seeds brochure.
              B.             Richmond Grows will create 4 introductory videos to seed saving.
              C.             Richmond Grows staff/volunteers will attend workshops on seed saving.
              D.            Richmond Grows will sponsor a minimum of 1 seed saving workshop.