JCPL's newest community initiative brings together a large group of caring gardeners and educators to support our community garden and seed library. This project builds on our health, wellness, and quality of life partnerships to help provide food education, food for the Fresh & Free fridge, volunteer opportunities, and more.

A seed library is a collection of seeds that are available for free to members of the community. Working with our community partners, JCPL is focused on improving food access, promoting local agriculture, and eventually retaining heirloom and organic seeds. Our new community garden provides a great way for patrons of all ages to get involved with the community and learn more about where food comes from, how to care for a garden, and how to improve nutrition and health. Items grown in the community garden are shared with the community through the Fresh & Free Fridge program. In 2023, hundreds of pounds of food, mostly fresh and homegrown vegetables, were distributed through this project.

The community garden & seed library project is a partnership of the library, the Jefferson County Agricultural Extension (UF/IFAS), the Jefferson County Department of Health, Wilderness Coast Public Libraries, the Damian Garden Project, and Herbalists Without Borders of the Big Bend. If you are interested in volunteering or supporting the project, contact the Agricultural Extension at (850) 342-0187.