The East Las Vegas Seed Share is a grassroots initiative that brings the community together through a simple yet powerful idea: offering free seeds to anyone interested in growing their own plants. Marilyn Herrera the founder of East Las Vegas Seed Share, was inspired to start her seed library after seeing other communities offer free seeds. As someone who has personally struggled to find room in the budget for seeds, Marilyn wanted to ensure that others had access to the seeds they needed to start their own gardens.

The Seed Share encourages people to grow their own food, demystifying the process and breaking down barriers often preventing individuals from starting a garden. The initiative seeks to challenge the notion that growing plants is reserved for experts or those with large amounts of land and money. Instead, it promotes the idea that anyone can participate in gardening, regardless of their background or knowledge level. By putting seeds in the hands of the community, the organization hopes to inspire people to start planting and share their harvests with neighbors.

The library operates on a seasonal rotation, offering different varieties of seeds depending on the time of year. During warmer months, it stocks seeds for crops like tomatoes, squash, and sunflowers. As the weather cools, the focus shifts to lettuce, kale, and other plants that thrive in cooler temperatures. This ensures that the community has access to seeds that are best suited for each growing season, improving the likelihood of successful harvests. The Seed Share also encourages people to save seeds from their own plants, fostering a cycle of sustainability and self-reliance.

In addition to promoting self-sufficiency, the East Las Vegas Seed Share fosters a sense of community by encouraging people to share the fruits of their labor. By growing food and flowers from the seeds provided, participants can exchange produce, seeds, and knowledge with their neighbors. This strengthens local relationships, creates bonds between individuals, and helps to build a more resilient and connected community. The simple act of sharing seeds and produce contributes to food security and empowers the community to take control of its own food system.

The East Las Vegas Seed Share has expanded across various locations in the city, including community centers, senior centers, schools, and even neighborhood book libraries. Each location offers a selection of seed packets, and participants are encouraged to take only what they need and return any extra seeds to the library. The project has seen great success, with a wide variety of seeds being distributed and an increasing number of people engaging in gardening and seed saving.

While maintaining the seed libraries and ensuring they remain stocked can be challenging, the organization is committed to continuing its work. The project is supported by volunteers and donors, who contribute seeds, materials, and time to keep the initiative running. The Seed Share also welcomes seed donations from community members and organizations, helping to ensure a diverse selection of seeds is always available.

Looking to the future, the East Las Vegas Seed Share envisions expanding even further, with the goal of placing seed libraries in more schools and public libraries across the city. By doing so, the project hopes to reach more people and inspire future generations to take an interest in gardening and sustainable living.

The East Las Vegas Seed Share is more than just a source of seeds; it’s a movement that brings people together, encourages self-sufficiency, and empowers individuals to take control of their food and environment. Through the simple act of sharing seeds, the project has planted the seeds of change in the community, helping to create a healthier, more resilient, and more connected future for all.

For those interested in getting involved or supporting the initiative, the organization accepts donations and has an Amazon wish list available on its Instagram account, @Eastlvseedshare. Whether through contributing seeds or simply growing and sharing plants, everyone has a role to play in cultivating a thriving, sustainable community.