DIY Seed Bank

Larchmont Charter Seedbank

Gardening is as much about saving as it is about spending. With fall here and plants now spent, in or gearing towards their final phase of life, which ends with lots of seeds, it is a time to save. While the photo above shows commercial seeds and not seeds from our garden plants, we will be doing that in our 3rd grade classes tomorrow. 

These seeds shown above in the picture, however, are a symbol of the importance of beginning a seed bank. Not only are things kept in order and readily easy to find, but these seeds can mean the beginning of many generations of plants to come. 

While we spend money in the beginning of the season to get things going, many times, gardening is about being resourceful, frugal, conscientious, and creative. The two C's are at the top in my book. Being conscientious about our surroundings and what we have to work with allows us to be resourceful and creative with transforming what we have into what we need. 

It's a challenge, a fun one, if you ask me. As a gardener and school school teacher on a budget, I'm constantly looking for ways to transform readily accessible things on campus and at my home. This seed bank featured above was an unused shoe box. I gave it a new purpose in life, covering it with Trader Joe's paper bag and using pieces of the paper bag to make dividing labels. Now, seeds will be safe and sound. 

*photo by Tiffanie Ma