CADL Seed Library

One Seed, One State

Saving and sharing seeds helps feed communities and preserves cultural heritage. CADL joins with libraries across the state each year to promote growing and sharing seeds.

In April, stop by any CADL branch to pick up the year’s statewide seeds, while supplies last.

The Michigan Seed Library Network is excited to announce the 2023 seed for One Seed, One State is ‘Grand Rapids’ lettuce! It is a frilly, non-bitter leaf lettuce that is easy to grow and may be eaten as baby lettuce as early as 28 days after planting. If you trim the leaves above the crown and they will regrow, and if individual plants are allowed to grow larger they will form loose heads. Growing and saving seeds from lettuce is easy, and we encourage all of our participants to give seed saving a try!

‘Grand Rapids’ lettuce was developed by Eugene Davis of Grand Rapids, who became known as the “father of forced lettuce’ in the late 1800s. Extremely cold-hardy, ‘Grand Rapids’ lettuce is credited with establishing the greenhouse winter lettuce industry in Grand Rapids that supplied the Great Lakes region and beyond for decades. Still popular, ‘Grand Rapids’ lettuce is in the pedigree of many crisphead varieties. Find out more at www.miseedlibrary.org.

Seed Sharing

What is seed sharing? Seed sharing (or 'seed libraries') are community projects which aim to provide free seeds and assist in sharing seeds saved by local gardeners. At CADL, nine branches host seed sharing collections. Members may browse and 'borrow' free seeds from April - May at select locations. Seeds are available while supplies last.

CADL Dansville
1379 East Mason Street
Dansville, MI 48819

CADL Holt-Delhi
2078 Aurelius Road
Holt, MI 48842

CADL Leslie
201 Pennsylvania Street
Leslie, MI 49251

CADL Mason
145 West Ash Street
Mason, MI 48854

CADL Okemos
4321 Okemos Road
Okemos, MI 48864

CADL South Lansing
3500 South Cedar Street
Lansing, MI 48910

CADL Stockbridge
200 Wood Street
Stockbridge, MI 49285

CADL Webberville
115 South Main Street
Webberville, MI 48892

CADL Williamston
3845 Vanneter Road
Williamston, MI 48895