Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Portage Lake District Library, in Houghton, is one of three locations in the Western U.P. that has a seed library for local gardeners, with everything from vegetables to flowers.

HOUGHTON — For many enthusiasts, gardening season is quickly approaching, while for others, it has already begun. Each year, many veteran gardeners throughout the Western Upper Peninsula extend the growing season by starting seeds indoors in March or early April.

But as the popularity of gardening has been experiencing a rise in popularity and interest since the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, every spring more and more people decide to try their hand at food producing. For those new to gardening, deciding what to plant and what to grow can be a challenge. Local seed libraries can be a great place to start. Seed libraries have seeds for vegetables, fruits, herbs and even flowers.

Assisting gardeners in seeking, locating and identifying seeds, public libraries that house seed libraries and seed exchanges continues to grow in number. Three of these, the Portage Lake Seed Library, the Ojibwa Community Seed Library and the Calumet Public Library Seed Exchange, are hosted by the Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative.

In Houghton, the seed library is housed in the Portage Lake District Library, on Huron Street, in Houghton. The Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative people who do not have to be a library member to check out or donate seeds.

Katrina Linde-Moriarty, PLDL director, said the seed library is quite popular.

“Well, it’s definitely more popular running into spring, when people are wanting their seeds,” said Linde-Moriarty, “but it’s also great year-round when people are wanting to do container farming in the area, or try something new on their balconies, or inside their house.”

Herbs, she said, definitely go first, but PLDL works with a local group to get the seed library stocked.

“The herbs are usually a lot easier to do indoors than, say a tomato plant, or something that needs hardy sunlight throughout the season,” Linde-Moriarty said.

The seed library, she said is available to anyone and everyone in the community regardless of a library card.

“It is helpful if you are able to save seeds from what you grow,” she suggested. “We really want to keep it replenished, especially with local heirloom varieties.”

It is understood, she added, that beginners need a place to start and the seed library is there for them, as well.

“So, don’t ever feel like you have to learn how to be able to save seeds,” she said, “but it’s definitely a boon if you’ve got a pumpkin or something that you can save a couple seeds from.”