BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Like most Southerners, Martha Simmons believes there is nothing that tastes better than a homegrown tomato. The Stockton resident, and gardening enthusiast, has grown her own from seeds and hopes to help others do the same.

Simmons is one of the donors to a new Seed Lending Library at the Bay Minette Public Library. The budding collection features an assortment of donated seeds for herbs, ornamentals and vegetables.

Joanna Bailey, library director, said the project is modeled after a similar one in Magnolia Springs. After receiving input from Alida Givens, the former library director in Magnolia Springs, Bailey got to work creating a local Seed Lending Library.

“The process is simple. They are broken down into herbs, ornamentals, and vegetables. People can come in, sign out some seeds, then go home and plant them,” Bailey explained. “Once their crop comes in they can harvest the seeds and return them to us. I can take them and package them and add them back into the seed lending library.”

Bailey said the seeds are housed in the library’s old card catalog. “Which I love because it is such a beautiful piece that has new life,” she said.

“Martha (Simmons) provided most of the seeds to start the project. The library purchased a few to add to it and some are coming from a seed lending exchange,” Bailey said. Additional donations are also expected from others interested in growing the project.

Simmons provided growing information for labels which Bailey applied to all the seed bags. The library also prepared information on seed saving, planting time tables, frost time tables and has added some books on the topic to its collections.

For Simmons, the Seed Lending Library gives her the opportunity to share her extra seeds and pick up new varieties as well. “If I saved all my seeds, I might have enough for hundreds of plants where I only want a half a dozen. It’s a way of sharing things and having a little variety without having to go buy a whole pack and pay for shipping. There is an economic benefit to sharing seed.”

There is another benefit, Simmons shared, in that it affords people the opportunity to learn about other plants and experiment with growing from seed. “Try something easy,” she recommends. “You just have to get out there and try it with a few things and you have to be willing to kill a few plants. Over time you figure things out. Growing things from seeds is really exciting.”

The self-proclaimed “seed nerd” said borrowing from the Seed Library can also make it a bit easier. “Taking seeds that have been saved and grown in your area, a lot of times those seeds are stronger and better adapted to your conditions. With every passing year they get a little bit stronger and more able to withstand the weather, especially the rough summers we have here. The humidity is tough on plants.”

Bailey said the library is the perfect place to house a seed lending library because of the wealth of resources available. “We already have the card catalog which is ideal for storing the seeds, and we have tons of information on the subject of seed saving and gardening to help beginners and pros. And, if for some reason we don't have the information, we can find it for you.”

Both Bailey and Simmons said the program is a way to experiment and share the love of seed growing. “I am really hoping that other people will take advantage of it and give it a try and not be intimidated by it,” Simmons said. “Once you get the hang of it, you will get hooked on it.”

Your taste buds will thank you.