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Header image for the Seed Library, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Third Floor

Header image for the Seed Library, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Third Floor
Seed Library Garden Club Newsletter – January 2026
Happy New Year!
 
2026 is here, and with it, many more opportunities to learn and grow in your garden. January is the time for planning and--in our climate--even starting your planting. Have you been putting off making a garden plan this winter? Have you been browsing the seed catalogues? Is your indoor grow lab set up yet, or your greenhouse cleared out? Now’s the time to get all that started! In Zone 8a, ours here in Memphis, many annual favorites can be started from seed indoors at the end of January or the beginning of February, so it’s best to be prepared if you want to extend your growing season. Most peppers, herbs, brassicas, and goosefoot (chard, beets, etc.) can be started as early as January 12th, though you ought to wait a little longer for faster-growing or heat-loving plants like cucumbers and tomatoes.   
 
It’s not just you and your garden getting started, though. We at the Seed Library are preparing another amazing year of programs. Just around the corner, we’ll have Garden of Deeden’s Dee Cressy here for her inspiring and innovative Winter Sowing class. It’s a great opportunity to learn some neat tricks for getting ahead this year while reusing containers and saving money on seed starting. We hope to see you on January 14th at our new time, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm, in the usual place, 3rd Floor Business Sciences. 
 
We’re also busy packing seeds for our grand re-opening of the Seed Library itself, so be sure to mark your calendars for the 5th annual Seed Swap; it’s going to be bigger and better than ever, and we hope to see you there: Sunday, February 8th, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. 
Some Community Shoutouts: 
 
January 15th. Hobby Kick-Start: Winter Seed Sowing with Pam Beasley and Tammy Hausmann at the Dixon 6:00 pm-8:00 pm 

January 17th. Bartlett Gardening University – Beekeeping with Master Gardener John Peterson at the Bartlett Library 2:30 pm-3:30 pm 

January 21st. Dixon Garden and Gallery Munch and Learn: Growing for Spring Blooms at Whitton Farms 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
 
January 24th. Bartlett Gardening University - Spring Startup with Master Gardener, John Peterson at the Bartlett Library 2:30 pm-3:30 pm 
 
January 27th. Caring for House Plants (Gardening) with Booker T. Leigh at the South Branch Library 2:00 pm-3:00 pm 
 
January 31st. Bartlett Gardening University - Spring Startup with Master Gardener, John Peterson at the Bartlett Library 2:30 pm-3:30 pm 
 
Lichterman Nature Center will be hosting 'The Birds & the Seeds' community event on Saturday, January 31st, 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm.  This is an annual event held on National Seed Swap Day to bring together the Memphis community to swap seeds, learn about native and backyard gardening, and celebrate the upcoming spring with birding and more! 
 
Compost Fairy is Back! Their permanent free drop-off site is South Memphis Farmers Market, located at 1400 Mississippi Blvd, and it runs Monday through Saturday, 10-5! 
 
See y’all on January 14th! 
 
- Anthony, Blake, and Laura 

Seed Library Garden Club: 
📅 When: Wednesday, January 14th  
🕔 Time: 5:30–7:00 pm 
📍 Where:  Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3rd floor Reading Area. 
 
At our Garden Club Meeting: Backyard Winter Sowing with Garden of Deeden
  • 🐝Join Dee and learn about all the ways you can get ahead of the spring by starting plants in the winter.
  • 🌻 Fun DIY techniques to jump-start your plants, even while it’s still cold.
  • 📢 Advice on how to grow, no matter what kind of space you have. 
👉 Register here! 

Other Great Programs This August and Beyond
Colorcopia Nature-Inspired Art Classes 
 
🎨 Partnering with the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in 2026, these classes meet (just about) every third Tuesday from 1–2 pm. Learn a new garden-themed art skill every month with this hands-on class. No experience necessary, just bring your creativity! 
 
📅 Next Class: Tuesday, January 15th, 2026 
 
We’re so excited to grow together in 2026. See you soon! 
 
🌻 Happy Gardening, 
 
   -Anthony, Blake, and Laura 

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The Memphis Public Libraries began the Seed Library at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in 2016 with the help of Memphis Tilth and UT Extension. It's located on the 3rd floor of Central Library and housed in a former card catalog. With donations from the public and funding from Friends of the Library and the Memphis Library Foundation to buy supplemental seeds, the Seed Library functions as a free exchange of seed packets for the Memphis community. Vegetables, flowers, and herbs—simply take what you need, and after your harvest (if possible), donate seeds from your yield. 
 
Check out the Gardening Calendar from UT Extension for an in-depth, day-by-day explanation of when to plant and what to plant.

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Memphis Public Libraries
3030 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 415-2700
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