Put this on the very long list of stuff I didn’t know.
Decatur’s DeKalb Library Branch now sports a “Seed Library”, which “is a collection of seeds for use by patrons and includes instructions for growing and nurturing urban gardens.”
According to the Library’s website,
Patrons “check out” seeds for free from the library to grow in their gardens and are encouraged to participate in workshops and other related events. The DIGG Seed Library will not collect or distribute saved seeds, but will encourage patrons to save and share seeds.
You can also check out the extensive seed catalog on the website, which includes more than 40 kinds of fall garden plantings, from Arugula to Turnips.
Those with DeKalb Library cards can take home up to 5 seed packets a month.
Love this program! Got my collards and turnips seeds, so I’m all set for some good eats! :0)
“DIGG seeks to address the ever-growing food deserts within our community. Food deserts are areas in the community where residents have difficulty finding fresh healthy food because there are few nearby grocery stores and farmers markets.”
A real education on the myth of food deserts is sorely needed, though I doubt this is what DIGG has in mind. For example, did you know that if you live in Decatur — within easy driving distance of at least four large grocery stores, not to mention two recurring farmer’s markets — you reside in a food desert? It’s true, according to the USDA:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
I especially like that, if you zoom in on the east side of Decatur, you’ll see about a quarter of Commerce Drive is within a food desert. Just a few blocks to the east? Kroger.
It also turns out that “food deserts” don’t explain consumption patterns.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/09/upshot/giving-the-poor-easy-access-to-healthy-food-doesnt-mean-theyll-buy-it.html?_r=0
In short, this program is an almost perfect waste of public money.
The Times article is interesting. I’ve sort of witnessed the dynamic first hand on trips to visit family in Alabama. It would be quite reasonable to say that many there live in a food desert, as they have to drive a half hour or more to get to almost everything. But these aren’t necessarily low income people, judging by the trucks in the Western Sizzling parking lot (FYI, that’s an all you can eat restaurant similar to Ryans). But it’s a safe bet education levels aren’t high.
My wife got some lettuce seed. It is up and growing!