Madison Public Library’s popular Garden Seed Giveaway kicked off this week at eight library locations. All libraries (except the Madison Central Library) offer a variety of flower, herb, and produce seeds to visitors, free of charge.
Visitors can stop into participating libraries to pick up seeds while supplies last at each location. Each seed packet contains 10-15 seeds.
Free seeds are available at the following libraries:
- Alicia Ashman Library [733 N. High Point Rd]
- Goodman South Library [2222 S. Park St]
- Hawthorne Library [2707 E Washington Ave]
- Lakeview Library [2845 N. Sherman Ave]
- Meadowridge Library [5726 Raymond Rd]
- Monroe Street Library [1705 Monroe Street]
- Pinney Library [516 Cottage Grove Rd]
- Sequoya Library [4340 Tokay Blvd]
Library staff encourages visitors to take as many seeds as they plan to use, and a library card isn’t required to enjoy the Seed Library. However, once seeds are gone, they won’t be restocked until winter, when the library transitions its collection to feature native Wisconsin plant seeds.
“In 2025, we gave away 54,108 individual seed packets during the garden seed giveaway— that’s 15.3% more than what we distributed in 2024,” said Hannah Majeska, Community Engagement Librarian leading the Seed Library Initiative at Madison Public Library. “Year-over-year, we continue to see an increase in demand for seeds, and we’re happy to provide this valuable resource.”
This year, approximately 50 different species of seeds will be available, and each year librarians modify their ordering based on both public feedback and observation. Learn more about Madison Public Library’s Seed Library and access additional resources like gardening booklists online at madpl.org/seedlibrary.
