Welcome to 🌱 Plant Parenthood, the Root Access community seed library — a community-driven collection of seeds you can "borrow", plant, and grow. Seeds from harvests are often to returned to the library for others. It's free to use and open to everyone. Whether you're growing herbs on a windowsill or building a full backyard garden, this is is your resource guide to gardening.
Sharing seeds helps build resilience, preserve biodiversity, and support local food sovereignty. Plus, it's fun. Let's grow something good together.
🚧 Under Construction
Plant Parenthood is brand new at the space, and this wiki page is under early development. Have idea? Hit us up! Discord is your best bet. 😃
📍 How It Works
Take some seeds. Each envelope includes some seeds.
Grow your plants. Eventually we'll have info on specific seeds and plants.
Save seeds (if you can). When your plants mature, consider saving seeds from the healthiest specimens and bringing them back to the space to share!
Return or donate seeds. You can return saved seeds or donate extras — just label them clearly!
Also:
- 🌱 Basic gardening tools are available for members to borrow, but please make sure to take care of them and return them!
- 📚 Books on gardening are available to read, but please don't take them home—take a photo or make a copy of any information you may need later.
🌐 Resources
Explore these helpful links to learn more about seed saving, what grows well in the Central Valley, and where to find regionally adapted seeds.
🏛 Seed Libraries & Community Resources
Seed Library Network
A hub for community seed libraries with how-to guides, examples, and a searchable map of other libraries.
Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI)
Promotes freely shareable seeds, inspired by open-source software.
📓 Growing Guides
Vegetable Planting Guide for the San Joaquin Valley (PDF)
A concise month-by-month calendar of what to plant and when in the San Joaquin Valley. Includes recommendations for direct seeding, transplanting, and greenhouse starts, along with notes on perennials and crops that don't thrive in Valley conditions.
UC Master Gardeners – Fresno County
Local gardening tips, planting calendars, and free events tailored to the Central Valley.
California Garden Web (UCANR)
General gardening help with a focus on California climate zones and water-wise growing.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange – Growing Guides
Straightforward crop-by-crop growing guides.
Urban Farmer – Garden Guide
A solid all-in-one resource with beginner-friendly growing guides, planting tips, pest and disease troubleshooting, and crop-by-crop advice for fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers.
🌻 Native & Drought-Tolerant Plants
Calscape (California Native Plant Society)
Find native plants by ZIP code. Great for creating pollinator habitat and water-wise gardens.
UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars
Drought-tolerant flowers, herbs, and shrubs proven to thrive in Central California landscapes.