The Common Seed Project
The Common Seed Project
The Common Seed Project took root in the summer of 2024 when a group of seed librarians and enthusiasts from western Massachusetts came together to share their passion for seeds. During an early meeting, librarian Paulina Borrego, who oversees the Mass Aggie Seed Library at UMass Amherst, proposed the brilliant idea of a "Common Seed." Inspired by "Common Read" programs—which foster shared reading experiences to spark meaningful conversations—Common Seed cultivates community through a shared growing experience, while also promoting promoting sustainable gardening practices, with seed saving at its heart.
These individuals played a key role in planning and implementing Common Seed:
| Alison Baitz Emily Baron Paulina Borrego, UMass Amherst Caroline Bruno, Franklin County Sheriff's Office Renee Ciulla, UMass Amherst Jocelyn Cozzo, Hatfield Public Library Natane Halasz, Hampshire College |
Phoebe Hynes Young-In Kim, Greenfield Community College Tatjana Mackin Anthony Reiber, Greenfield Community College Irene Tournas, Williams College Andy Yang |
Plus encouragement from friends, librarians, and gardeners.
