With each branch of the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) closed to the public, a team of library staffers are working remotely, mailing free starter kits of seeds from the NOLS Grows Seed Library to residents throughout Clallam County.

Those interested in requesting seeds and trying their hand at vegetable gardening can complete an online seed request at www.nols.org/seedlibrary or call 360-417-8500, x2, to get help from a library employee with completing the form.

The small seed starter kits now available via mail consist of 3-4 packets of seeds. After completing the request form, users can expect their seeds to be mailed within one week.

NOLS shared almost 1,500 packets of seeds with about 400 people in May.

Established in 2017, the NOLS Grows Seed Library is a seed exchange kiosk, stocked with small, pre-packaged quantities of free vegetable seeds, and providing other educational materials related to gardening, growing and seed-saving.

The Seed Library provides residents with a low-cost opportunity to try gardening and experiment with growing small quantities of different plant varieties in order to:

• encourage responsible stewardship

• expand knowledge about growing food

• empower individuals to acquire new skills

• encourage community

All NOLS facilities remain closed to the public because of the 2019 novel coronavirus emergency; however, Gov. Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan identifies libraries as able to re-open in Phase 3. NOLS officials are developing a phased plan for gradually re-instating library services.

The library is open online at www.nols.org, or follow NOLS on Facebook and Instagram for events, online resources and other library services.