Bay City Seed Library

05/03/2026

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03/20/2026

IT’S SPRING AND WE’RE BACK!
The seed library opened today for our ninth year. Volunteers have prepared thousands of seed packets – vegetables, herbs and flowers – all free to Bay County residents.
We’re located in the Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library downtown, on the first floor near the front desk, available whenever Wirt is open. Seed packets (up to 10 at a time) can be checked out like books. To pick up seeds at another Bay County library branch, call the branch to request them; you’ll be contacted when they’re ready.
Our thanks to everyone involved: all those volunteers who helped package seeds, Friends of the Bay County Libraries for covering seed costs, Main Street Seed and Supply for providing seeds at a substantial discount, those who donate seeds from their gardens, and the Bay County Library System and its staff for daily operations and supplies.
Remember: Librarians can always help direct you to resources to learn more about growing, cooking, canning and more.
Happy gardening!

03/17/2026

GARLIC TEA?
“You gotta drink some garlic tea!” says Bevin Cohen, who attracted a full house at the Wirt Library this evening for a hands-on explanation of herbal teas. Garlic, it turns out, includes zinc, meaning it can help ease colds.
Ben, who comes each year to herald the seed library’s opening, says green tea and black tea come from the same plant – green from young leaves, black from mature leaves.
To find your favorite herbs for tea, he suggests, check right after adding hot water and then again after the tea has steeped for a few minutes. “When that water hits the teabag – boom!” he says; other chemicals come out as the tea steeps, changing its color and aroma.
This evening’s crowd also had early access to the seed library, which opens for the season Friday -- the first day of spring. Thousands of seed packets await you then!

03/05/2026

"Seeds will often sprout without it, but it could take much longer, and you’ll likely end up with far fewer seedlings."

Many seeds only require soil and water to sprout. Others, however, have a harder coating that makes germination a bit difficult.

03/02/2026

HE’S BACK!
As usual, we’ll reopen the first day of spring, March 20.
But first… Bevin Cohen, the father of Michigan seed libraries, returns to the Wirt Library downtown -- talking this year about herbal teas. Ben is always an entertaining and informative speaker. He’ll be in the first-floor community room, 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 16. Hope to see you there!

02/24/2026

MORE SEEDS!
We still have seeds to be repackaged for this year’s seed library (which opens in less than a month) and we need help.
We’ll go at it starting at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 28, in the first-floor community room at the Wirt Library downtown on Center. We’ll be there till we’re done! (You can come and go anytime.)

02/16/2026

BRING OUT YOUR SEEDS!
Have any seeds to donate to the seed library? Now’s the time. Drop them off this week at the front desk at the Wirt Library downtown (or at any Bay County branch library). Spring is coming!

02/08/2026

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE…
… who turned out today to help repackage seeds for the seed library! We had a full house and got through a small mountain of seeds, from acorn squash to zucchini.
(An insider tip for our friends: As usual, the seed library will reopen the first day of spring, March 20.)

01/24/2026

It sure doesn’t feel like growing season these days, but our page has now grown to 1,000 followers. Thanks for all your interest! We’re looking ahead to another successful year.

11/17/2025

Winter is coming, but you can think ahead to next year’s garden. Here’s an online course from MSU that you can take at your own convenience...

This course covers gardening from start to finish: what you need to get started, types of gardening, planning and preparation, soil preparation, plants to select, starting and maintaining healthy plants, garden maintenance, harvest and storage, pollinators and various gardening activities.