Seed library Keimzelle”: autumn preparations for hobby gardeners!

Seed library Keimzelle”: autumn preparations for hobby gardeners!

The “Keimzelle” seed library in Bernau delights hobby gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike. Opened nine months ago, the library on the first floor of the city library at Breitscheidstrasse 43b and at its branch in Schönow at Schönerlinder Strasse 25a has developed into a popular contact point for everyone who is interested in preserving the diversity of herbs, fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants.

Hobby gardeners can borrow seeds from the Association for the Preservation and Recultivation of Crops (VERN), including rare varieties such as purple coneflower, rue, pimpinelle and yellow cherry tomato. Everything works according to a simple principle: you borrow seeds, plant them, harvest the plants and bring some of the seeds back. This keeps diversity alive - and all for free, unless you bring back your own seeds, which is urgently desired.

Seed donations and fall sowing

The community shows great willingness to donate to the seed library. The donations should be well labeled and dried. Everything that comes to the “germ cell” enjoys a red bar with the note “seed donation”. Sabine Keller, who is in charge of the offer, is pleased with the positive feedback from Bern residents.

New seeds have been ordered for the upcoming fall sowing. The commitment does not go unnoticed, as a plant exchange will take place on September 20th - an excellent opportunity to publicize the seed library and promote exchange among plant lovers. Gabriele Karla also organizes a “Garden Talk” to strengthen social contact and the transfer of knowledge among hobby gardeners.

A place of meeting

The special thing about the seed library is the philosophy behind it: Seeds from pure, home-grown plants should be offered, which come from natural breeding and are seed-proof. This not only promotes garden culture, but also ensures that nature is protected and preserved. One important rule: seeds from purchased stocks will not be accepted. Finally, the offer is intended exclusively for private purposes and is not intended for commercial use.

Based on a resolution of the 7th city council meeting in 2023, the “germ cell” has gained a foothold as an innovative project in the field of sustainable agriculture. The seed library inspires you to turn your own garden into a diverse ecosystem and thus contribute to the preservation of our natural environment. A small but wonderful project that offers so much more than just seeds - it creates a community of like-minded people who stand up for nature together.