Mission
- To preserve and loan organically grown, non-GMO, open-pollinated, locally successful and genetically diverse seed varieties to the Galiano Island community
- To provide educational opportunities and information to the Galiano community on growing and saving seed
We acknowledge the deep privilege of living upon, and growing and saving seeds on, the traditional, unceded and asserted lands of the Penelakut, Lamalcha and Hwlitsum First Nations, as well as other Hul’qumi’num and SENCOTEN speaking peoples, and the treatied territory of the Tsawwassen First Nation.
Featured Seed
Swiss Chard
By Francis Moyle, Director
I recently joined the Galiano Seed Library and I am really impressed with the locally viable seed selection available to the public. Once you become a member, you have access to the vast selection of seeds they maintain. One of my favorite and easiest vegetables to propagate is Swiss chard. Last year I grew a large plot of rainbow chard and since it has been grown year after year here on Galiano, the library’s Swiss chard seems to flourish well in our Mediterranean type climate. The Seed Library has two types: Rainbow Chard and Yellow Sunrise. Our inventory is available at seedlibrarygaliano.org/seed-inventory.
Here are some fun [Read More…]
Latest News, Events, Articles & Stories
Swiss Chard
By Francis Moyle, Director I recently joined the Galiano Seed Library and I am really impressed with the locally viable seed selection available to the public. Once you become a member, you have access [Read More...]
Seed Library of Galiano Update
By Colleen Doty, President Attention all seed savers and farmers: a Mobile Seed Cleaner, operated by Farm-Folk-City-Folk, will be coming to Galiano October 8, 2022 to showcase the possibilities of more efficient seed extraction. [Read More...]
Cross-Pollination and the Importance of Saving Galiano Seeds
By Doug Latta, Board Member I recently became a director for the Seed Library of Galiano (SLOG). I soon learned how well organized and efficient the library operates, though it became clear to me [Read More...]
October 7 and 8, the Seed Cleaning Mobile is coming to Galiano! Get your seeds together and bring them to the Lions Park. Designed to save time and make seed cleaning easier. See poster for details. Bring ear plugs! We're grateful to Farm Folk City Folk for helping make this possible. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Based on SLOG membership experience, saving viable cucumber seeds has been a challenge. Here's a helpful, timely post from Rachel Gill, with some tips on saving cuke seeds.Oops! Missed one! If you accidentally let your cucumbers get to this point, they are mature enough for seed saving!
Seed Saving: CUCUMBER SEEDS
Cucumbers that you are growing to save seed from must be grown to full maturity and to the point where they are no longer edible. The cucumber will be much larger than usual harvest size (as seen in this photo) and will start to soften. It will also change colour from green to yellow.
Once it is at that point, cut the cucumber in half lengthwise. Over a bowl, scoop out the seeds from the center of each half. Add about as much water to the bowl as the amount of seeds, and set aside in a warm, sheltered spot to ferment, much as you would if you were saving tomato seeds. Fermentation of cucumber seeds can occur in as little as one to three days. Once most of the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the container, they are finished fermenting. Add more water to the bowl at this point to clean your seeds. Debris and bad seeds will float to the top, where you can scoop them out and compost them. The good seeds will be at the bottom. Rinse them a few more times, then strain them out and place them on paper towels or plates to dry. Once they are completely dry, label your seeds and store them in a cool, dry place.
Stored properly, cucumber seeds will remain viable for up to ten years.
Question: Do I need to ferment them or can I skip this step and just wash and dry?
Answer:  Yes you can simply scrub them clean by rubbing with your fingers but there are benefits to fermenting first. Fermenting can increase germination rates by ensuring that the seeds are completely free of pulp and other barriers. Fermentation will also kill some seed bourn pathogens and reduce chance of spreading any disease that might be present. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Seed Library of Galiano updated their business hours. ... See MoreSee Less
Seed Library of Galiano updated their business hours.
facebook.com
Comment on Facebook
Seed Library of Galiano updated their business hours. ... See MoreSee Less
Seed Library of Galiano updated their business hours.
facebook.com
Comment on Facebook
An excellent (paid) opportunity for seed mentors and mentees available through Farm Folk City Folk and the Victoria Foundation. Short closing date for applications: April 30 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
This Saturday, SLOG has another seed lending day at the Galiano Community Library from 12-2pm. If you haven't picked up your seeds this year, please pop by, or, book an appointment through our email seedlibraryofgaliano@gmail.com for a time that works better for you. This will be our last lending session of the year (except by appointment only).
We are also looking for a couple of volunteers for Saturday (11:30-3:30pm) to help us update the collection. If you can commit to at least an hour, that would be awesome! This is a great opportunity to become familiar with the collection and see how it works.
Or, if you'd like to bring your own seeds to sort and package, that could be fun too! Photo credit to David Holifield. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
It was a fun day today at our seed lending session at the library. I've missed the face-to-face interactions. So nice to visit with members and friends, and a big welcome to our newest members Aslan, Thea, and Colin. Thank you, Eleanor, for the arugula, parsley, and money plant seeds.
Here's a photo of the perennial Money Plant, Lunaria annua.
Our next seed lending day is April 23rd, from 12-2pm. We can also be reached via email at seedlibrarofgaliano@gmail.com if you'd like to set up an appointment to pick up seeds.
Colleen ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Tomorrow is another seed lending & sorting session, 12-2pm at the Community Library meeting room.
Some highlights:
- We have some fabulous purple broad beans and scarlet runner beans recently donated by Heather M.;
-Gai Lan Broccoli donated by our newest member DJ.
- Flower seeds (including Asters, Gypsophila, Coreopsis, chrysanthemum), and kale varieties donated by Kris D.
Our inventory is available on our website: www.seedlibrarygaliano.org.
Some of our latest donations haven't yet made it to the formal inventory, but they are available for lending tomorrow.
If you have seeds to sort of your own or to share, you are welcome to join us in the meeting room to sort your seeds and chat. Sorting is much more fun with company.
I've also attached a planting chart published by West Coast seeds.
Thank you to everyone who donates or returns Galiano-grown seeds. We couldn't do this without you!
Colleen, on behalf of the rest of the board: Joan, Barry, Frank, Lezlie, and Doug ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Our featured seed this month: Red loose-leaf lettuce, with an article by board director Lezlie Wagman. Seeds are available for loan this Saturday, April 2nd at the Community Library, from 12-2pm. seedlibrarygaliano.org/2022/03/30/asian-loose-leaf-red-lettuce/ ... See MoreSee Less
Asian Loose-Leaf Red Lettuce
seedlibrarygaliano.org
By Lezlie Wagman, Board Director Thinking about what salad greens to plant this spring? What about Asian loose-leaf red lettuce? Your Galiano Seed Library has just acquired some of these easy to grow ...Comment on Facebook
Some inspiration for this rainy day.
www.atlasobscura.com/articles/unique-seeds-turkey?fbclid=IwAR1CYkK4VdUKURUaynRBLwlopbfmnCj_dUGOE6... ... See MoreSee Less
The Educator Stockpiling—and Sharing—Turkey's Heritage Seeds
www.atlasobscura.com
You don't save agricultural traditions without swapping some seeds.Comment on Facebook