Gwinn Seed Library

Fresh organic vegetables you can grow in Gwinn Fresh organic vegetables you can grow in Gwinn

The Gwinn Seed Library is housed in the Forsyth Township Public Library and is a free service to all in our community. We feature many UP Smart™ seeds along with others that are non-gmo, organic and some hybrid that meet our standards. In 2025, we have 500,000 seeds in the Gwinn Seed Bank that will not only be in the Gwinn Seed Library for this year’s growing season but have been shared with 45 Lions Clubs across the U.P.

There are a total of 140 garden beds comprising raised and in-ground throughout the Gwinn area. We gave 680 pounds of fresh produce to St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry in Gwinn last season. We are shooting for 2000 pounds this year to a variety of needs.

 

What is a seed library?

It is a diverse offering of food crop seeds, some you may find locally, others are more unique to rare, but all are great for growing in this region referred to as ‘short season ready’. A seed library is a ‘seed bank’ that provides quality seeds donated by active growers in the area and from notable seed companies in the U.S.

The idea of a seed library in Gwinn came from volunteering with the Queen City Seed Library in Marquette. They have over 200 people using the seed library. QCSL and Transition Marquette Country have hosted a number of events for participants. The seed library in Marquette is becoming self-sustaining as more people learn how to save seeds and give back to the seed library.

One of our goals for the Gwinn Seed Library is to teach participants (and any other person wanting to attend) how to harvest and store seeds from the food you grow. Ultimately, to be able to ‘check back in’ seeds to sustain the Gwinn Seed Library! Seed saving is an amazing way to learn more about growing.

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Forsyth Township Public Library is an excellent location, a hub to a greater community that will benefit from daily access to seed types that are focused on short season growth in the U.P.

Questions? Information desired?gwinnfoodsystem@gmail.com

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How do I participate?

Anyone can come into the Forsyth Township Public Library and search through the seed offerings. Seeds will return to the library at the end of March 2026 after being in hibernation for the winter months.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

*We’re getting kinda big! We will need volunteers to help with planting, weeding, harvesting in the Gwinn area. Can you spare an hour or two a week? Can you spare 4 hours a week? You will be trained and when harvest begins, you will GET FRESH PRODUCE.

Contact Steve Finley: 920-573-0430 (leave message or text)

 

Gwinn Seed Library (Gwinn Food System) 2026 Workshops

    1. February 21, 11am, Forsyth Forward office – Steve Finley will be presenting on Soil, Planting & Plants – A summary of 2025. Introduction to problems we faced at Gwinn Food System and how to avoid them. Soil update on increasing soil organic matter, soil amendments, composting and seed varieties for 2025 and 2026. Planting suggestions, timing & strategies for season extension.
    2. March 14, 11am, Gwinn Community Church – Seed Swap. Seed savers- we will host a seed swap for any who bring seeds. This is about acquiring seed varieties you may not have tried before. Ask the seed providers, they usually have a lot of information on the seeds they bring. No seeds to swap? We will provide seed packets at the end of the swap to those who didn’t have seeds to swap.
    3. March 31, Gwinn Seed Library opens for the season at the Forsyth Township Public Library!
    4. April 18, 11am, Gwinn Community Church- Grafting Tomatoes. A hands-on workshop with Grace Aalto Rosenbaum demonstrating the techniques for using root stock to grow better tomatoes and how to combine cherry tomatoes on a single plant. Materials & plants provided. A materials donation is suggested.
    5. May 30, 1030am (with plants), 1130am (without plants) Gwinn Community Church- Plant Swap. The usual and unusual swapping of plants between growers. There may be some very interesting varieties of plants this year for you to swap. Swap begins at 10:30 a.m. for those who bring plants to swap. For those without plants to swap, come at 11:30 a.m. There will be plants available. Please do not come before 11:30 a.m. You will be turned away.

Contact Steve Finley

stevefgrower@gmail.com, gwinnfoodsystem@gmail.com

920-573-0430 (Leave a message)

Forsyth Township Public Library