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Seed Library At Washtenaw Community College

The Seed Library has germinated as part of the Food and Agriculture subgroup of the Washtenaw Community College Sustainability Council. Beginning in 2024, the Seed Library receives funding from the Center for Sustainability and Resilience.

January 2025

Fun With Winter Seed Sowing Plants sprouting in cut milk jug

When: Tuesday, January 28,  2025
Where: Zoom
Time: 4:00 to 4:45 PM

Featuring Monica Milla, WCC Community Enrichment Instructor

You've heard of starting seeds indoors to get a jump on spring, but it's also possible to start seeds outdoors in winter!  Find out how to mimic Mother Nature. There's no need for a greenhouse or grow lights, you're not limited by indoor space restrictions, and your seedlings will be hardened off and ready to plant.  Growing your own garden provides equitable access to food.

Monica will highlight everything you need to know (seeds, containers, care) and then demonstrate the technique!

Sponsored by the Bailey Library, WCC Seed Library, and WCC Bee Campus USA.

Open to all (students, faculty, staff and community members)-  Questions? Contact Sandy McCarthy at mccarthy@wccnet.edu

Registration: See link below. 

Gardening for Soil Health

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 1 pm to 2 pm WCC Bailey Library Active Learning Zone

Did you know that healthy soil is full of life, from tiny microbes to earthworms? Discover the hidden world of healthy soil in your garden, teeming with life from tiny microbes to busy earthworms! By embracing soil health, you’ll support vibrant plants, reduce water and fertilizer needs, and grow more nutritious produce. Soil health principles make your garden resilient and eco-friendly, fostering a balanced ecosystem right beneath your feet. Join us to explore how nurturing soil creates a thriving garden that benefits you and the environment!

Special guest Barbara Gregerson, Consumer Horticulture Educator, Michigan State University, MSU Extension Center, Washtenaw County.

The event is sponsored by the WCC Bailey Library, WCC Seed Library, WCC Bee Campus USA, and the Center for Sustainability and Resilience (CSR).

Free and open to all.

Rethinking the dandelion: A Resilient flower with endless benefits

Tuesday, April 1, 2025, from 1 pm to 2 pm  Bailey Library Active Learning Zone

Join us on April 1 as we celebrate Dandelion Day, marking the start of a new year for bee hives and honoring one of the most resilient and versatile plants in our ecosystem for all people.

Often overlooked as a mere weed, dandelions are a powerhouse of nutrition for humans, a valuable medicinal herb, and a natural dye source. They're also among the first flowers to bloom in spring, providing essential food for bees and other pollinators.

This enlightening event will explore the history of dandelions, their role as a human sustainable food source, and their remarkable resilience. By the end, you'll have a newfound appreciation for these bright blooms—and a smile the next time you spot one in your yard or driveway.

Bonus for attendees!
Participants will receive a choice of Pink Dandelion Seeds or White Japanese Dandelion Seeds, from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, courtesy of the WCC Seed Library to start your own dandelion garden. The event will also discuss the WCC Seed Library offering free seeds to start your garden.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with nature and learn how a humble flower can make a big impact!

The event is sponsored by the WCC Bailey Library, WCC Seed Library, WCC Bee Campus USA, and The Center for Sustainability and Resilience (CSR).

Special guest speaker Barbara Gregerson, Consumer Horticulture Educator, Michigan State University Extension Center, Washtenaw County.

Registration: the event is open and free to everyone. Questions: Contact Sandy McCarthy, WCC Librarian mccarthy@wccnet.edu

March 2024

Join us on Tuesday, March 13, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Library Active Zone for Women’s Molokhia leaves History Month and the reopening of the WCC Seed Library! Attendees will watch and discuss the short documentary The Seed Queen of Palestine, learn how to use the Seed Library, enjoy locally made snacks, and receive free molokhia seeds from Nature & Nurture Seeds to plant in their own gardens.

The Seed Queen of Palestine:

In the fields and terraces of the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian woman is leading a quiet revolution. Vivien Sansour is distributing rare, ancient heirloom seeds to Palestinian farmers. Inspired by memories of her grandmother and the delicious food of her childhood, Vivien wants to reintroduce long forgotten Palestinian produce to the tables of people across the West Bank and beyond. And she believes these organic, climate change-resistant seeds are the key to that. She experiments with growing the treasured seeds in her own garden beside the separation wall, under the watchful eye of Israeli soldiers. Popular local herbs and seasonal vegetables flourish as she tends to her garden with expert care and dreams of reviving and celebrating Palestinian food culture. But can she persuade farmers struggling with the pressures imposed by the Israeli occupation and agribusiness to embrace such traditional crop-growing methods? To convince them of the value of the seeds, she sets up a traveling kitchen, taking her seeds and their produce on the road and reminding Palestinians of the power of food to capture the joy and beauty of home.

October 2016

Garlic: How to grow and how to cook it
Thursday, October 20 from Noon to 12:30 PM

Garrett’s Restaurant, First Floor, Student Center Building, Room 132

Speakers:  Chris Troiano, WCC Culinary Arts Department and Monica Milla, WCC Lifelong Learning Instructor
Food and Agriculture Group, Sustainability Council

RSVP not required.  Contact Sandy McCarthy with questions. mccarthy@wccnet.edu or 677-5293

Food Literacy for All