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NYU Seed Library

Plant a seed. Share a seed.

The NYU Seed Library is a community-centered and ever-expanding seed saving initiative dedicated to exploring the importance of biodiversity in our food system.

We offer a space for NYU students, faculty, and alumni to share stories, learn with each other, connect with culture, and further develop a network of seed keepers. 

We accomplish these goals by:

  • Hosting community events like seed swaps, pot lucks, and talks from guest speakers;

  • Growing, collecting, and distributing seeds through the NYU Urban Farm Lab and our expanding seed catalog;

  • Partnering with seed growers, collectors and other organizations to preserve and share unique and culturally relevant seed varieties;

  • Offering a physical and intellectual space for NYU students, staff and alumni to build community;

  • Providing public resources for seed cultivation, harvesting, and saving.

Community-based gardeners and local growers are safeguarding the beautiful and critical diversity of our food system. Join us - follow us @NYUSeedLibrary, watch our seed saving workshops, and request free seeds to grow and share.

Anjani Sneha Varjala, a food studies graduate student at NYU, chose a mung bean variety for her seed story. She says: “the @nyurbanfarmlab is the most amazing space I found. My joy of working with soil and bean projects was a bonus for it helpe
As part of the NYU Seed Library’s bean project, Food Studies alumna Sarah Dietz grew the buffalo runner (aka Moldovanesti Buffalo) bean and the Pepe de Rola bean to reflect her family’s heritage. She says: “I chose the buffalo runn
Join the NYU Seed Library for our first native plant walk with @nycparks Greenbelt Native Plant Center! Patrick Over, one of the city's official seed collectors, will lead our group in identifying native species that enhance our local biodiversity a
Former NYU Student Health Center Registered Dietitian and Master's Student Laura Kumar is from New Jersey. Many of her ancestors immigrated from Ireland to the US, mostly New York. She says: “The only beans I recall eating while growing up we
Former Food Studies grad student Siobhan O'Flaherty joined the NYU Seed Library in 2020. As part of her seed story journey, she interviewed family members and uncovered a treasure trove of old photos. She says: “I was most interested in trac
NYU Seed Library co-founder @leighollman developed the bean project as a way to learn more about her own seed saving heritage, and she is still searching! She says: “As part of this process, I conducted interviews with extended cousins that I
Thank you all so much for coming out to the Seed Library event yesterday evening at the @nyurbanfarmlab! We harvested beans, learned about seed saving, talked about why we all care about seeds, and ate some yummy treats. We were so happy to have such
We are so excited about our first event of the semester! rsvp link in bio !! Please share with anyone who you think would be interested. Hope to see you all there 🫘

Stay updated on our upcoming events, projects and other initiatives @NYUSeedLibrary

NYU Urban Farm Lab

The NYU Urban Farm Lab is the official home of the NYU Seed Library. The farm serves as an outdoor classroom, research lab, and community grow space. On the farm, students learn how to cultivate, care for, and harvest seasonal edible crops in an urban environment. The larger NYU community participates on the farm during farm volunteer days, class visits, and farm events.

To learn more, click here.