Free Seed Libraries in Minnesota

Free seed libraries are a great way to get seeds to start your garden and learn more about gardening in the process. Here is our list of free seed libraries throughout Minnesota!

Have you heard of seed libraries? These are programs that are set up to educate both new and experienced gardeners, while typically giving people a chance to receive free seeds for their gardens.

Fitting in with the library theme…many of these seed libraries are hosted at library locations. Sometimes you need to have a library card to receive free seeds, while others just offer a limited amount to whoever shows up and picks out the seeds.

Other seed libraries are located inside Little Seed Library boxes (similar to Little Free Library boxes for books).

We rounded up all of the seed libraries in Minnesota that we could find. If you know of any others, please leave a comment and let us know so we can add them to the list. Thanks!

Minnesota Free Seed Libraries

This list is organized alphabetically by city.

Alexandria

Douglas County Library
720 Fillmore St
Alexandria, MN 56308

You will need your Douglas County Library card to check out seeds. Each person can borrow up to 3 packets of seeds. Choose the seed packets you would like and bring them to the circulation desk. They also accept seeds from your garden or unopened commercial seed packets.

Anoka

Check out a Little Free Seed Library at 628 Tyler St in Anoka. Share some garden seeds or take some garden seeds for yourself. Donations are always welcome! More information HERE.

Austin

Austin Public Library
323 4th Ave NE
Austin, MN 55912

The seed library is a way for people to learn more about gardening, whether they’ve been doing it for years or are just starting out. And, the library is offering plenty of options from vegetables to flowers for all types of gardens.

Hormel Nature Center
1304 21st Street NE
Austin, MN 55912

This Seed Library features native flower seeds.

Belle Plaine

Belle Plaine Public Library
125 W Main St
Belle Plaine, MN 56011

Seed libraries can be found at all 7 public branches of the Scott County Library. They’re free to use and don’t require a library card. They do encourage people to limit their selection to 10 packets per day, just to keep things fair and available.

Brownsdale

Brownsdale Public Library
103 East Main Street
Brownsdale, MN 55918

In addition to a seed library, free informational classes about gardening are offered in the spring.

Cambridge

Cambridge Public Library
111 N Dellwood St
Cambridge, MN 55008

Thousands of free seed packets available at the Cambridge Public Library. Everything from vegetables to herbs to flowers. There is a limit for the number of seed packets per person per day. 

Isanti Extension Office in the Government Center
555 18th Ave SW
Cambridge, MN 55008

Thousands of free seed packets available at the Isanti Extension Office. Everything from vegetables to herbs to flowers. There is a limit for the number of seed packets per person per day. 

Duluth

Various Locations
The Duluth Community Garden Program set up Little Free Seed Libraries for the Duluth community during the COVID-19 crisis.

These four small boxes are set up in public locations to offer convenient contact-free free vegetable seed distribution. Libraries will be stocked through the spring and early summer as long as seed supplies remains.

East Grand Forks

East Grand Forks Campbell Library
422 4th St NW
East Grand Forks, MN 56721

The Seed Library is free and open to all, no library card needed. Patrons may choose to take up to 3 seed packets per library visit. Seed packs are non-reservable and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie Library
565 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Patrons are welcome to browse the seed libraries, which are located in special seed catalogs at Eden Prairie, Hosmer, Nokomis, and St. Louis Park libraries. Take only what you need, and at the end of the season, please consider saving your seeds to donate back to the seed library for someone else to enjoy.

Nine Mile Creek Discovery Point
12800 Gerard Dr
Eden Prairie, MN 55346

Based on the idea of the Little Free Libraries, you can take seeds, or drop off seeds. Most seeds included in the library are Minnesota native wildflowers. Take only what you need, keeping in mind that many native flowers like to spread and move around. Be sure to look up what kind of conditions they need before you plant.

Elko New Market 

Elko New Market Library
110 J. Roberts Way
Elko New Market, MN 55054

Seed libraries can be found at all 7 public branches of the Scott County Library. They’re free to use and don’t require a library card. They do encourage people to limit their selection to 10 packets per day, just to keep things fair and available.

Farmington

Farmington Library
508 3rd St
Farmington, MN 55024​

The Dakota County Seed Library is maintained through a partnership between the Dakota County Library, the Dakota County Library Foundation, and the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners. Any Dakota County resident may use the Seed Library – no library card required.

Fergus Falls

Fergus Falls Public Library
205 E Hampden Ave
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Our goal is for every household in Fergus Falls to grow fresh food. Try a windowsill, container, or square foot garden. We provide free seeds and education to create a more resilient local food system and healthier community. Borrow up to 5 packets of seeds per person. The seed library is available year round. It is restocked yearly in late February.

Forest Lake

Hardwood Creek Library
19955 Forest Rd N
Forest Lake, MN 55025

Seed availability is dependent on donations. Different varieties are available at any given time. You do not need a library card to use the seed library. Select up to five packets of seeds you’d like to take home. You will be asked to fill out a seed checkout slip to help them track usage.

Grand Meadow

Grand Meadow Public Library
125 Grand Avenue East
Grand Meadow, MN 55936

In addition to the seed library, check out their Winter Seed Sowing class presented by a Master Gardener on March 25, 2025 at 6 pm.

Lanesboro

Lanesboro Public Library
202 Parkway Ave S
Lanesboro MN 55949

The Seed Library offers free, open-pollinated seeds and resources for planting, growing, harvesting, and seed saving. Grow your own food and return your saved seeds to share with the community if you are able. Borrow up to 5 packets of seeds per person.

Did you have a successful growing season last year? The Seed Library is looking for your donations! They are currently accepting clean, dry, and ready to be packaged open-pollinated or heirloom variety seeds.

LeRoy

LeRoy Public Library
605 North Broadway
LeRoy, MN 55951

Help yourself to whatever you would like to try growing. Take as many packets as you think your growing space will accommodate. Seeds are available from February to June or while supplies last.

Luverne

Rock County Community Library
201 W Main St
Luverne, MN 56156

In collaboration with Prairie Ally and Project Seed Forest, a seed library is available for free for all community members looking to find an assortment of seeds for their own gardens or who are willing to share any seeds they may have left over from their own planting.

Mahtomedi

Wildwood Library
763 Stillwater Rd
Mahtomedi, MN 55115

Seed availability is dependent on donations. Different varieties are available at any given time. You do not need a library card to use the seed library. Select up to five packets of seeds you’d like to take home. You will be asked to fill out a seed checkout slip to help them track usage.

Maple Grove

There is a Little Free Library and a Little Seed Library at 9225 Ives Ln N in Maple Grove. More information HERE.

Minneapolis

Hale Page Diamond Lake Community Association
5144 13th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417

The Little Free Seed Library was built and installed in 2021 by a local gardener to share resources with the community.

This library is available to make it easier for residents to try gardening and to try growing new types of produce and native plants without purchasing packets with hundreds of seeds that a single family may not need.

Hosmer Library
347 E 36th St
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Nokomis Library
5100 34th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55417

Patrons are welcome to browse the seed libraries, which are located in special seed catalogs at Hosmer and Nokomis libraries. Take only what you need, and at the end of the season, please consider saving your seeds to donate back to the seed library for someone else to enjoy.

Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Locations

There are 11 recreation centers stocked with vegetable, flower and herb seeds, along with spring garden planting information and tips from Park Gardeners. Anyone can come into the rec centers listed below to take seeds or leave seeds for others to plant.

• Bryant Square: 3101 Bryant Ave S
• Creekview: 5001 Humboldt Ave N
• Loring: 1382 Willow St
• Lynnhurst: 1345 W Minnehaha Parkway
• Matthews: 2318 28th Ave S
• MLK: 4055 Nicollet Ave S
• Nokomis: 2401 E Minnehaha Parkway
• Powderhorn: 3400 15th Ave S
• Phillips: 2323 11th Ave S
• Sibley: 1900 E. 40th St
• Van Cleve: 901 15th Ave SE

Midtown Global Market
920 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55407

The Do It Green! Seed Library has found a home near the stage in the center of Midtown Global Market. Stop by to drop off your extra seeds or pick up new-to-you seeds as you begin making your garden plans for next season!

Minnetonka

Seed Library
12801 Sheffield Curve
Minnetonka, MN

These are Mike’s collected seeds from fall – mostly wildflowers, sometimes seedheads, and sometimes mislabeled. Early spring and again in fall he puts out ferns, Hosta’s and volunteer shrubs alongside the little library.

Olivia

Olivia Library
405 South 10th St.
Olivia, MN 56277

The seed library is back this year! They have a kickoff event scheduled for March 18, 2025 and a class on seed saving the following week (details HERE).

Owatonna

Owatonna Public Library
540 West Hills Circle
Owatonna, MN 55060

Seeds are available for pickup at the Seed Library, located on the second floor in the Adult Services section. Seeds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 3 seed packets per visit. Please take only what you need.


They also welcome seed donations at the library. You can donate vegetables, flowers, or herb seeds, whether commercially packaged or saved from your own garden. For each variety of saved seed, please complete a donation form available at the drop-off location.

Prior Lake

Prior Lake Library
16210 Eagle Creek Ave SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Seed libraries can be found at all 7 public branches of the Scott County Library. They’re free to use and don’t require a library card. They do encourage people to limit their selection to 10 packets per day, just to keep things fair and available.
 

Rochester

Rochester Public Library
101 2nd St SE
Rochester, MN 55904

The Seed Library offers free, open-pollinated seeds and resources for planting, growing, harvesting, and seed saving. Grow your own food and return your saved seeds to share with the community if you are able. The Seed Library is open from March 1 to August 31.

Savage

Savage Public Library
13090 Alabama Ave
Savage, MN 55378

Seed libraries can be found at all 7 public branches of the Scott County Library. They’re free to use and don’t require a library card. They do encourage people to limit their selection to 10 packets per day, just to keep things fair and available.

Shakopee

Shakopee Public Library
235 Lewis St S
Shakopee, MN 55379

Seed libraries can be found at all 7 public branches of the Scott County Library. They’re free to use and don’t require a library card. They do encourage people to limit their selection to 10 packets per day, just to keep things fair and available.

St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park Library
3240 Library Lane
St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Patrons are welcome to browse the seed libraries, which are located in special seed catalogs at Eden Prairie, Hosmer, Nokomis, and St. Louis Park libraries. Take only what you need, and at the end of the season, please consider saving your seeds to donate back to the seed library for someone else to enjoy.

St. Paul

Como Community Seed Library
Various Locations

Como Community Seed Library was founded in the fall of 2015 to give our community access to free organic, open-pollinated, open access seed and garden education. CCSL is a mobile seed library that is based in the Como Park neighborhood of Saint Paul and serves Saint Paul and her surrounding communities.

East Side Seed Library
Dayton’s Bluff Library
645 E 7th St
Saint Paul, MN 55106

The East Side Seed Library is located inside the Dayton’s Bluff branch of the Saint Paul Public Library and is operated in partnership with the Metro State University Library and Learning Center as well as Urban Roots. Take a seed packet (up to 5), take an information sheet and check out at the desk.

St. Peter

St. Peter Public Library
601 S Washington Ave
St. Peter, MN 56082

The seed library is free and open to any patron with a Traverse des Sioux library card. You may borrow up to 24 total packets, 8 in each category (native, flower, vegetable). Browse the many options available, then bring them to the checkout counter and check them out with your library card.

Scandia

Gammelgården Museum
20880 Olinda Trail North
Scandia, MN

The museum is open from May-December of each year. Visit the Little Free Seed Library from Wednesday-Saturday 10-4 or Sunday from 1-4.Choose 1-3 seed packets. Use as many seeds as you need. Either bring back what you don’t use so someone else can use the remaining seeds or share them with someone else.

White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake Library
2150 2nd St,
White Bear Lake, MN

The White Bear Lake Seed Library is a free program whose goal is to strengthen our community of gardeners by sharing seeds. The library operates on the honor system to maintain a well-stocked collection of healthy and viable seeds for the community to use. People may checkout seeds anytime the library is open.  You can also find some great information on their seed blog here.

Willmar

Willmar Public Library
410 5th St SW
Willmar, MN 56201

Anyone can borrow seeds, a library card is not required but we would be happy to help you get one! At the end of the season, let a few plants “go to seed” and return the collected seeds to the library. Fill out a membership form and return it to the Information Desk to get your member number. Then you will be able to check out 5 seed packets per week.

Winona

East Recreation Center
210 Zumbro St
Winona, MN 55987

The Seed Library offers a variety of seeds from vegetables to flowers. The seed library strives to educate, exchange, and preserve seeds for the Winona community. The library is sustained through seed donations. If you would like to make a donation or select seeds, stop by the ERC during open hours.

Do you know of any Minnesota Free Seed Libraries that we missed? Let us know!